Apple unveiled HomeView on Tuesday, a $299 smart home hub featuring a seven-inch display, built-in speakers, and a FaceTime camera, Ars Technica reported. The cuboid device serves as a central controller for connected household accessories, video calls, audio playback, and photo slideshows.
The hardware comes in countertop and wall-mountable configurations, finished in silver, starlight, rose pink, or space gray. Apple equipped the base with microphones and speakers, while preloading built-in applications including Calendar, Messages, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Music, and Podcasts to handle daily tasks without an iPhone.
HomeView runs an updated Siri assistant capable of recognizing up to six individual household members. The system automatically shifts the interface when a recognized person approaches, displaying their personal messages, contacts, calendar entries, notes, and preferred applications.
Apple also introduced companion accessories alongside the hub, including security cameras, a smart deadbolt lock, and a video doorbell that sounds a chime through the HomeView. Users can instruct Siri on the hub to adjust thermostats, lock doors, operate lighting, or stream live camera feeds directly on the display.
Development of the device faced delays linked to issues with Siri, which also slowed Apple's wider smart home roadmap. Apple previously struggled to match the market reach of competing smart displays such as Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub following mixed consumer adoption of the HomePod.
Preorders opened Tuesday ahead of retail availability on November 13. Bloomberg previously reported that Apple is also exploring a separate, more advanced hub design featuring a robotic arm capable of physically repositioning its screen.
