Table of Contents Expand
Related reading: Apple Late October Mac Wave | HomePod mini 2: Six Years Later | More Tech Guides at Gzmato

October 14, 2026 — Apple has officially announced HomeView, its first-ever smart home display. Priced at $299 and launching on November 13, the device is Apple's long-awaited answer to the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub — nearly a decade after those products first hit the market[citation:1][citation:4].

But HomeView is not just a late response. It is Apple's attempt to redefine what a shared home screen should feel like: a device that recognizes who is standing in front of it, switches to their personal content, and stays private to everyone else in the house[citation:3][citation:6].

Quick Answer: Apple HomeView is a 7-inch smart display powered by the A18 chip and Siri AI, priced at $299. It comes in two models — tabletop (with speaker base) and wall-mounted — and four colors. It supports face recognition for up to six household members, FaceTime, Apple Music, HomeKit controls, and up to nine simultaneous camera feeds. Pre-orders opened October 13 in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. China and the EU are not in the first wave[citation:1][citation:2][citation:8]. The most capable Siri AI features require a paired iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence enabled[citation:1][citation:12].
7-inch Liquid Retina, 1088×1088 A18 Chip + Siri AI Face Recognition for 6 Users $299 Both Models China Not in First Wave

What HomeView Actually Does

HomeView is designed around a simple idea: one shared screen in the home that feels personal to every person who walks up to it[citation:3].

The hardware is unmistakably Apple. A 7-inch Liquid Retina display (1088×1088, 220ppi) sits on a stainless-steel tilt hinge attached to a domed speaker base. The display automatically adjusts brightness from 500 nits down to 0.3 nits, and the interface density changes based on how close you are standing[citation:1][citation:7].

Feature What It Does
Face RecognitionRecognizes up to six household members and switches to their personal Home Screen, with their own apps and widgets[citation:3]
Privacy LockPersonal content (Messages, Calendar) only appears when your face is recognized AND your paired iPhone/iPad is nearby and recently unlocked[citation:1][citation:12]
AudioTwo full-range drivers in the display, a down-firing woofer and two passive radiators in the base, Spatial Audio[citation:3]
Camera FeedsHome Camera face displays up to nine live camera feeds at once[citation:1][citation:3]
FaceTimeCenter Stage keeps participants framed; Intercom reaches HomePod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch[citation:3]
Recipe ModeSafari can convert web recipes into step-by-step instructions with hands-free timers[citation:6]
FacesPhotos, Flow (interactive art), Snoopy animations that respond to time, weather, and sports[citation:3]
No App Store, By Design

HomeView does not have an App Store. It runs a curated set of Apple apps — Messages, Music, Weather, Reminders, Calendar, Safari, Find My, FaceTime, Apple TV, Podcasts, News, and Home. Select third-party media apps that already work with CarPlay are supported[citation:5][citation:10]. This limits what you can install, but it also means Apple controls the experience end-to-end.

Siri AI on HomeView: Powerful, With Conditions

The headline feature is Siri AI, powered by Apple Intelligence. On HomeView, Siri AI can hold natural conversations, discover music, and answer questions about virtually any topic — even without a paired iPhone[citation:3].

But the most useful features come with conditions[citation:1][citation:12]:

  • Personal context (Messages, Calendar, playlists) requires a paired iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri AI turned on.
  • Siri AI is in beta with HomeView software version 27.2.
  • Server-side features have daily usage limits — Apple says expanded access "will be available for a fee in the future."
  • Expressive Siri voices require iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or iPad with M4 chip or later and at least 12GB unified memory.
What this means for buyers: If you do not own a recent Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone or iPad, HomeView still works — but you will not get the personalized Siri experience that Apple is showcasing. It becomes a capable smart display, not a personalized assistant.

Pricing, Colors, and Availability

Item Detail
Price$299 for both tabletop and wall-mounted models[citation:1][citation:7]
Colors (Tabletop)Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, Space Gray — each with a color-matched cable[citation:1]
Colors (Wall-Mounted)Space Gray, Silver[citation:1]
Pre-OrderOpened October 13, 2026[citation:1]
LaunchNovember 13, 2026[citation:1][citation:7]
First-Wave MarketsU.S., Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, India; Singapore opens Oct 15[citation:17]
Wall MountSchneider Home mounts sold separately ($59.95–$129.95)[citation:1]
Looking for Apple devices and accessories? Our self-operated channel offers competitive pricing on Apple products and accessories — with official warranty support. Contact our team for a current quote before you buy.

Why China (and the EU) Are Left Out

HomeView is not launching in China or the EU in the first wave. Apple has given different reasons for each[citation:2][citation:13][citation:17].

  • EU: Siri AI is not yet available on iOS in the EU. Apple says it is "communicating with EU authorities" to find a path forward[citation:2][citation:13].
  • China: The launch announcement did not include China. The only new Apple home product confirmed for China is the HomePod mini 2 at RMB 1,099[citation:8].
What Chinese Buyers Can Actually Get

From the October 13 “Welcome Home” event, the HomePod mini 2 is the only product confirmed for China at RMB 1,099. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and multiple colors, but Siri AI does not land with the China version. HomeView and the new Apple TV 4K are not in the first wave[citation:8].

How It Compares to Echo Show and Nest Hub

HomeView enters a category where Amazon and Google have years of iteration. The comparison is not purely about hardware — it is about ecosystem and philosophy[citation:4][citation:5].

Aspect Apple HomeView Amazon Echo Show 8 Google Nest Hub
Price$299$199~$99
Display7" square, 1088×10888.7" 16:107" 16:10
AssistantSiri AI (beta)Alexa+Google Assistant
PrivacySecure Exclaves, no adsAds on screenLimited local processing
EcosystemApple Home, MatterAlexa, MatterGoogle Home, Matter
Video AppsNone (no YouTube, no Apple TV+)YouTube, Netflix, etc.YouTube, Netflix, etc.
The trade-off: HomeView costs $100 more than the Echo Show 8 and does not play video apps like YouTube or Netflix. What it offers instead is Apple's privacy architecture, tight integration with iPhone/Mac/iPad, and a design that reviewers describe as genuinely desirable to own[citation:4][citation:10]. Whether that is worth $100 depends entirely on whether you are already in the Apple ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

# What You Need to Know About Apple HomeView
1HomeView is $299 for both tabletop and wall-mounted models, launching November 13[citation:1]
2Face recognition for up to six people — each person gets a personalized Home Screen, but personal content is gated behind a paired iPhone[citation:3][citation:12]
3Siri AI is in beta and its best features require an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone or iPad[citation:1]
4No app store — a curated set of Apple apps and select CarPlay-compatible third-party media apps only[citation:5][citation:10]
5China is not in the first wave — the only new home product for China is the HomePod mini 2 at RMB 1,099[citation:8]
6EU also excluded — because Siri AI is not yet available on iOS in the EU[citation:2][citation:13]
7It costs $100 more than Echo Show 8 and cannot play YouTube or Netflix — you are paying for privacy, Apple integration, and design[citation:4][citation:5]
The Bottom Line: Apple HomeView is not a product for everyone. It is for households already invested in the Apple ecosystem — people who own recent iPhones, use Apple Home for smart devices, and value Apple's privacy architecture. For them, HomeView is the missing piece: a shared screen that recognizes each family member and keeps their personal data private. For everyone else, it is a $299 display that costs more than competitors, cannot play video apps, and relies on a Siri AI that is still in beta. The device is not available in China or the EU yet. If you are in a first-wave market and already deep in Apple's ecosystem, HomeView is worth considering. If you are not, the Echo Show and Nest Hub remain cheaper, more capable video devices.
Sources (as of October 14, 2026):
  • Apple Newsroom — HomeView official announcement, specs, features, pricing, availability[citation:3]
  • MacObserver — HomeView price, release date, models, colors, Siri AI conditions[citation:1]
  • QQ News / 凤凰网 — China and EU availability, launch markets[citation:2][citation:17]
  • Fast Company — HomeView’s late arrival, comparison to Echo Show and Nest Hub[citation:4]
  • ZDNET — Six reasons HomeView won’t replace Echo devices, pricing comparison[citation:5]
  • Engadget — Hands-on impressions, recipe mode, privacy features[citation:6]
  • Android Authority — Hardware details, wall mount options, pricing[citation:7]
  • 太平洋科技 — China availability summary, HomePod mini 2 pricing[citation:8]
  • Yahoo Tech — Echo Show comparison, no App Store, privacy focus[citation:10]
  • Macworld — Hands-on design impressions[citation:11]
  • Yahoo Tech (2) — Siri AI conditions, conditional features[citation:12]
  • Trusted Reviews — App Store absence analysis, ecosystem integration[citation:16]
Published: October 14, 2026. Product details, pricing, and availability based on Apple's official announcement and corroborating media reports. Siri AI features are in beta and subject to change. China and EU availability not confirmed.
Shop Apple Devices & Accessories at Gzmato

AirPods | HomePod | Apple TV | Chargers & Cables | Smart Home Accessories

Special Offer: Use code TECH2026 for a discount on your first order!

Shop Apple at Gzmato
Not sure if HomeView fits your smart home setup?

Our team can help you compare smart displays, check compatibility with your existing devices, and find the right option for your home. Chat with us or open a request.

Chat With Us Now Request a Recommendation →