Apple unveiled a $299 smart-home display Tuesday that uses facial recognition and artificial intelligence to identify who is standing in front of it, intensifying the company’s race against Amazon and Google to control the connected home.
The device, called HomeView, anchors a new product lineup that also includes an upgraded Apple TV 4K streaming box, a redesigned HomePod mini speaker, and a set of security cameras, door locks and thermostats built with partners LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.
HomeView goes on sale Nov. 13. It has a 7-inch touchscreen and a built-in camera that recognizes up to six household members by sight, then automatically pulls up that person’s calendar, messages and other personal information on the screen.
Apple says it has built safeguards to stop household members from seeing each other’s private data on the shared screen. Before sensitive information can appear, the system requires a compatible iPhone or iPad to be nearby and to have been unlocked recently.
Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst at Techsponential, attended Tuesday’s unveiling and called the device’s design impressive.
“It’s gorgeous. It’s smaller than it looks in photos, and it ties very deeply into Apple’s ecosystem,” Greengart told The Post.
The device runs on Apple’s upgraded Siri assistant, letting users ask questions, manage tasks, and control connected appliances by voice. It comes in tabletop and wall-mounted versions, and lets homeowners view security cameras, adjust thermostats, control lighting and make FaceTime calls directly from the screen.
Apple is locking the device tightly into its own ecosystem, which Greengart said will limit who buys it.
“If you’ve invested in Ring cameras, this probably isn’t for you. If you’ve invested in Android phones, this probably isn’t for you,” Greengart said.
A kitchen feature breaks recipes into step-by-step instructions and lets users set cooking timers straight from the recipe, according to Bloomberg. The display will also support Spotify and other outside media services through an interface based on Apple’s CarPlay technology.
The Rest of the Lineup
Apple’s $149 HomePod mini 2 arrives Oct. 30, built on the company’s S10 chip. It introduces a lighting feature called Sound Glow that illuminates the speaker’s touch surface in colors tied to album artwork or ambient sound.
The new $299 Apple TV 4K, also out Nov. 13, adds built-in microphones so users can issue Siri commands without touching the remote. The remote itself can emit a sound to help users find it when it’s lost. The previous Apple TV started at $199, according to Bloomberg.
Both the HomePod mini 2 and the new Apple TV can be preordered starting Tuesday.
Apple is also partnering with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric on a line of connected-home hardware shipping in December: a $199.95 indoor camera, a $249.95 video doorbell, a $299.95 outdoor camera, a $349.95 smart lock, a $399.95 floodlight camera, and smart thermostats starting at $199.95. Apple says these accessories can be set up through an iPhone without separate accounts or extra apps.
A Premium Price for a Premium Ecosystem
HomeView costs far more than comparable rivals — Amazon’s Echo Show 8 runs $179.99 and Google’s Nest Hub sells for $99.99. Greengart said Apple is betting its existing customer base will pay the premium.
“It’s not an impulse buy, but it isn’t outrageous,” Greengart told The Post.
He also said Apple’s move could reshape pricing across the industry.
“I also think that this gives Amazon and Google license to move a little bit up market,” Greengart said, noting Amazon has already shifted toward selling hardware profitably rather than discounting heavily to win customers.
Apple is wagering that tighter integration with its existing devices, personalized AI features, and its privacy claims will be enough to justify the price gap. Preorders for HomeView opened Tuesday, with units shipping to customers next month.
