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Apple’s $299 HomeView smart hub is here: 8 highlights, including the wall model
As an Apple Home user, here’s what stands out about Apple's new smart home hub - and what I want to test firsthand.
Apple just announced it’s releasing the HomeView for purchase on Nov. 13, with preorders beginning today, Oct. 13. The new device acts as a smart home hub, complete with a touchscreen, smart speaker, Siri AI, and a security camera dashboard.
Also: I’m an Apple loyalist with an Echo home: 5 ways HomeView could make me switch
The HomeView is designed to work with Siri AI as the brain of your Apple smart home. As a central smart home hub, the HomeView competes directly with the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.
The Apple HomeView is available for preorder at $299 on Oct. 13, with general availability on Nov. 13.
With Siri AI, the Apple smart home is finally getting the generative AI upgrade we’ve wanted for the past couple of years. As a loyal Apple Home user and smart home devices reviewer, I’ve had to watch Siri fall behind Alexa+ and Gemini for Home in my house.
In a world where generative and agentic AI is king, Siri has become obsolete.
Also: Forget Wi-Fi: Apple is betting on Bluetooth with its new home devices
With HomeView, Siri AI will be capable of holding natural conversations, handling multiple commands at once, maintaining context across personal devices, and answering general questions unrelated to your smart home.
The Apple HomeView can recognize up to six people and automatically switch to their personalized home screens when one approaches the device.