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Apple has announced the HomeView, a $299 smart home display with a 7-inch touchscreen, Siri, Home app controls and a built-in camera. The Verge’s hands-on report found the display responsive and demonstrated features including camera feeds, guided cooking and Siri’s use of personal context, though some capabilities were shown in demos rather than tested independently. Preorders are open, with shipping scheduled to begin Nov. 13.
Apple has announced the HomeView, its first smart home display, and The Verge has published a hands-on report on the $299 device. The display pairs a 7-inch touchscreen with Siri and controls for Apple Home-compatible devices; preorders are open, and Apple says shipping starts Nov. 13.
The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy described the HomeView as smaller than expected, with a bright, responsive Liquid Retina screen and a compact aluminum base that serves as a speaker. Apple is offering tabletop and wall-mounted versions. The screen can show photos and selectable faces, many resembling Apple Watch designs.
In the hands-on, the Home Widget displayed controls for smart-home devices, including a thermostat and door lock, as well as scenes. The reviewer also accessed live views from HomeKit Secure Video cameras. When she tried to unlock a door, the device required authentication with a face or iPhone. The report describes the widget as a larger, walk-up-and-tap interface to controls available in Apple’s Home app.
The HomeView uses gestures to move between faces, widgets and apps, and includes a control center. The reviewer said the built-in 12-megapixel camera can be enabled from there. Apple also demonstrated Siri features that connect personal information with home actions, but the reporter said she did not personally test that capability. Other demonstrations included recipe handoff from an iPhone, FaceTime with Center Stage, and a request to play a song mentioned in a friend’s text.
A New Screen for Apple Home
The HomeView gives Apple households a dedicated shared interface for smart-home controls, rather than requiring someone to find an iPhone or use voice commands alone. A wall-mounted display could keep frequently used controls in a fixed location, while the tabletop version is aimed at counters and other surfaces.
The larger promise is Siri’s proposed ability to connect information from messages or calendars to home routines. In an Apple demonstration described by The Verge, Siri used a message about a traveler’s arrival, estimated a transit journey and set a coffee-maker routine. If it works reliably beyond demonstrations, that could make the device more than a touchscreen controller. The report did not independently verify the feature, so its real-world performance remains untested.
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From Home App to Household Hub
Apple positions HomeView as a smart home controller, personal assistant and household hub. Its Home Widget draws on the company’s existing Home app, while the device’s faces, app access and swipe gestures give it an interface distinct from using that app on a phone.
The hands-on also points to uses beyond device control. Apple demonstrated transferring a recipe from an iPhone to an on-screen cooking format with step-by-step instructions and timers. The report says Apple expects many recipes using Google formatting to work, but the reviewer had not established how the feature handles recipes from sources such as TikTok.
“The first thing that struck me about the HomeView was its size. It’s much smaller than I expected.”
— The Verge reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
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Features Still Awaiting Tests
The hands-on covered only a limited set of features. The reviewer did not personally test Siri’s use of information from messages and calendars, and the report does not establish how accurately or consistently it can turn that context into smart-home actions. The timing and song-selection examples came from demonstrations.
The report also leaves open how well recipe handoff works with different sources, including TikTok, and provides no independent assessment of the HomeView’s long-term performance, privacy settings or compatibility beyond the features shown. Apple’s stated shipping date is Nov. 13, but the report does not give a year.
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Preorders Before November Shipping
Apple has opened preorders at $299 and says the HomeView will begin shipping Nov. 13. The next useful assessment will come from testing retail hardware, including whether Siri’s personal-context features work as shown, how recipe handoff performs across sources and how well the device fits into everyday household routines.
The Verge reviewer said she had only tried a few features and was looking forward to testing more. Until broader testing is available, the hands-on offers an early look at the hardware and demonstrations rather than a full evaluation of the product.
Apple HomeKit compatible smart display
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Key Questions
What is Apple’s HomeView?
It is Apple’s first smart home display, with a 7-inch touchscreen, Siri, a camera and controls for devices in Apple Home.
How much does the HomeView cost, and when does it ship?
Apple lists the HomeView at $299. Preorders are open, and Apple says shipping starts Nov. 13; the report does not specify the year.
What smart-home controls did the reviewer use?
The Verge report describes controlling a thermostat and door lock, activating a scene and viewing HomeKit Secure Video camera feeds. A door unlock attempt required authentication with a face or iPhone.
Did the reviewer test Siri’s personal-context features?
No. The reviewer said she saw a demonstration in which Siri used a message about a flight to help set a coffee-maker routine, but did not test that feature herself.
Can the HomeView display recipes?
Apple demonstrated transferring a recipe from an iPhone and formatting it with step-by-step instructions and timers. How it handles recipes from services such as TikTok remains untested in the report.
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