Apple is making a significant push into the smart home market with the announcement of HomeView, a $299 smart display that serves as a central control hub, alongside a new lineup of connected accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.
HomeView, announced on October 13 and shipping November 13, represents Apple's direct entry into the competitive smart display category dominated by Amazon and Google. The device features a 7-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen powered by an A18 processor, a 12-megapixel camera, and built-in microphones and speakers. It will be available in four colors: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray, in both tabletop and wall-mounted versions at the same $299 price point.
The device's core functionality centers on an upgraded version of Siri that Apple describes as "much more capable and conversational" than previous iterations. Users can control smart home functions including door locks, cameras, doorbells, and climate control systems through voice commands or the touchscreen interface. HomeView also integrates with Apple applications including Calendar, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, Notes, Reminders, Music, and Podcasts, positioning it as a multipurpose household device rather than a single-purpose control panel.
A distinguishing feature is HomeView's facial recognition technology, which can identify up to six household members and adapt the display to show personalized information based on who is detected. This enables customized access to messaging, reminders, calendar functions, and FaceTime calls for different family members.
Complementing HomeView, the Apple Home Collection introduces connected accessories including surveillance cameras, smart doorbells, electronic locks, thermostats, and temperature and humidity sensors. These devices are developed through partnerships with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, reflecting Apple's strategy of expanding its smart home offerings beyond proprietary hardware while maintaining control over the user experience.
A key advantage of the Home Collection is simplified setup. All accessories can be configured directly from an iPhone with a single tap, without requiring users to install additional manufacturer applications or create separate accounts with third-party services. The devices are managed through Apple's Casa application and are compatible with Siri voice control.
HomeView will launch in eight countries including the United States on November 13, with pre-orders opening immediately. The announcement marks CEO John Ternus' first major product announcement outside of iPhones since taking over from Tim Cook in early September. Apple also announced updates to other home products, including the Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini.
Apple has operated in the smart home market for approximately a decade but has not achieved major market success in this segment until now. The HomeView launch and Home Collection represent the company's latest effort to capture a larger share of the connected home device market.