Published October 13, 2026

Apple held a mini Home event that refreshed its Home lineup. The update included three products:

• HomePod mini 2: New colors and a glowing display at the top that matches the album art of the playing music.
• Apple TV 4K: Far-field microphones and a new remote with speakers, so users can ask Siri to locate it.
• HomeView: A new device intended to connect the rest of the Home ecosystem.

Apple has lacked a central smart home display for some time. The reviewer argues that Apple needs such a product to attract users away from the Amazon and Google Home ecosystems. After several days of use, the reviewer concluded that HomeView's first version is not compelling.

Product Overview

HomeView functions as a dashboard and hub for a smart home. It serves as a controller for connected devices, including thermostats, doorbells, and security cameras. It is comparable to the Google Nest Hub Max and the Amazon Echo Hub.

Hardware:

• A 7-inch square touchscreen mounted in a color-matching base
• Speakers in the display and base
• A camera at the top of the display
• An arm that adjusts the display up and down
• A mostly metal construction

Some observers see visual similarities to the iMac G4. The reviewer sees a partial resemblance, mainly in the semicircular base. Reports indicate that a larger model with a larger display and a fuller articulating arm is coming later. The reviewer considers that model a closer match to the G4 design, but the reports remain unconfirmed.

Pricing and Versions

HomeView is available in two versions, both priced at $300:

• Stand version: Includes the metal base with a woofer.
• Wall-mounted version: Has no base and no woofer.

The reviewer finds the identical pricing unusual, since the wall-mounted version lacks the base and woofer. The wall-mounted version also does not include a mounting adapter. Buyers must purchase one separately:

• $60 USB-C wall adapter
• $80 AC adapter
• $130 Power over Ethernet adapter

The wall-mounted version comes only in silver or gray. The stand version's other colors are not available for it.

Software and Functionality

HomeView contains an A18 chip and runs a new operating system. The reviewer believes it is called HomeView OS, although Apple has not clearly named it. It is neither iOS nor iPadOS.

Interface:

• The clock face customization resembles Apple Watch, including complications and modular faces.
• Swiping up from the bottom opens a customizable app drawer that supports widgets. The reviewer compares the layout to an iPhone Home Screen.
• HomeView has no App Store, and third-party apps do not run on the device.
• HomeView supports the CarPlay standard. Apps that use this standard can send content from an iPhone to the display.

Fast account switching:

HomeView's main feature is fast account switching. A single camera performs facial recognition. When a recognized user approaches, HomeView switches to that user's account and provides personal information, such as messages and calendar events. The system supports up to six people. Users choose which personal information appears.

Without a recognized user nearby, HomeView still handles timers, Siri requests, weather, and music. The reviewer notes two limitations:

1. Recognition is not Face ID. HomeView uses a single 12-megapixel Center Stage camera without infrared or depth sensing. To verify identity, it also checks whether a recently unlocked iPhone or Apple Watch is nearby. The reviewer expects this to resist spoofing, for example with a photograph. The reviewer questions how accurately it recognizes users in low light, given the absence of infrared.
2. No voice recognition. HomeView provides personal responses only when it detects a user in the general vicinity. It does not identify users by voice, and it does not respond personally to users in another room or on a couch. The reviewer contrasts this with Google's Nest Hub Max, which identifies voices and provides personal answers.

Power and design:

• HomeView has no battery. It must stay plugged in to function. Its USB Type-C port makes it somewhat portable.
• It has thick black bezels. The reviewer notes that Apple promoted white bezels on the iMac a couple of years ago to make it a friendlier family computer, which makes the black bezels on HomeView notable.

Display:

• LCD panel
• Maximum brightness of 500 nits
• Minimum brightness of 0.3 nits
• True Tone support, which the reviewer considers useful in dark rooms such as bedrooms
• The reviewer is fairly sure the refresh rate is 60Hz but could not confirm whether the display supports a higher rate.

The reviewer considers the display the strongest part of the product.

Siri and media:

• HomeView uses the new Siri AI. It is slower than the previous version but performs more tasks.
• First-party responses include Apple Music for music requests and Apple Calendar for calendar requests.
• Users can tap an iPhone against HomeView to transfer content. Supported transfers include music, an open Safari link, and an active FaceTime call, which appears on the display with the camera.
• Third-party audio services can play through HomeView. The reviewer was told that apps supporting the CarPlay standard, such as Spotify and SoundCloud, can display content from the iPhone on HomeView. The apps do not run natively on the device.

Sound:

The reviewer found the sound quality acceptable. The subwoofer produces audible bass. Maximum volume is lower than the reviewer expected, but the audio does not distort at high volume.

Assessment

The reviewer considers HomeView primarily a means to close a gap in Apple's ecosystem. Apple has partnered with LG on the Smart Home Collection, which includes doorbells, thermostats, and security cameras that meet Apple standards.

The reviewer could not identify a clear target group for HomeView:

• Casual users: Users who prefer the Apple ecosystem and do not focus on price might find the product appealing, given its iPhone connectivity features.
• Smart home enthusiasts: Users with extensive smart home setups would find Apple's ecosystem smaller than Amazon's and Google's. The reviewer considers the value of a kitchen display similar across the three platforms.

The reviewer expects that after the novelty fades, many owners will use HomeView mainly for music, timers, and Siri requests. The reviewer does not consider these functions sufficient to justify the price premium.

The reviewer's first impression is that HomeView is a product to skip for most buyers. The reviewer states that a second generation could be more convincing.