Apple has added a new device to its smart home range, and this one is designed to do more than just control connected gadgets. Called the HomeView, it combines a display, speakers, video calling and smart home controls in a single device. It also uses facial recognition to give different members of a household their own personalised experience.
The HomeView has a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and runs on Apple's A18 chip. It also comes with Siri AI, which can respond to voice commands and help users manage everyday tasks around the house.
Apple HomeView Price in India, Availability
The Apple HomeView costs Rs. 39,900 in India, while its price in the US is $299 (roughly Rs. 28,000). Pre-orders are now open in India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US through Apple's website and Apple Store app. The device will go on sale on November 13.
Buyers can choose from four colours: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink and Space Grey. Apple is also selling a wall-mounted version called the Apple HomeView (Wall Mounted), with prices starting at the same Rs. 39,900.
Apple HomeView Features and Specifications
The HomeView's 7-inch display supports True Tone and offers up to 500 nits of brightness. Apple has paired it with an aluminium body and a domed speaker base, connected by a stainless steel hinge. The hinge lets users tilt the screen to get a better viewing angle when the device is placed on a table.
The screen also changes how it presents information depending on how close someone is. For instance, someone looking at it from across the room will see a simpler view, while moving closer brings up more details. Apple has included customisable display faces such as Photos, Flow and Snoopy, along with widgets and shared photo albums.
One feature that could come in handy for families is facial recognition. The HomeView can recognise up to six people and show each person their own Home Screen, complete with personal apps and widgets. Messages and Calendar information stays private to the recognised user, although shared albums and music remain accessible to everyone in the household.
The device runs on Apple's A18 chip and includes Siri AI. The assistant can answer a wider range of general knowledge questions, help users discover music and respond to what's displayed on the screen. These capabilities are similar to those offered by Siri in iOS 27. Users can also ask Siri questions based on personal information available across compatible apps. Conversations started on the HomeView can be continued in the Siri app.
Apple has also put considerable emphasis on sound. The HomeView has two custom full-range drivers in the display, a down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators in its base. Its computational audio system adjusts the volume and bass response in real time, according to the company. Spatial audio and multiroom playback are supported when paired with compatible HomePod and AirPlay speakers.
For video calls, the HomeView supports FaceTime with Center Stage. Users can reply to messages by speaking or typing on the screen. It can also be useful in the kitchen, where recipes can appear as step-by-step instructions and timers can be controlled hands-free.
The HomeView isn't limited to entertainment and communication. It can also serve as a central point for managing compatible smart home devices. Users can switch lights on or off, adjust thermostats, operate smart locks and control blinds through the touchscreen or Siri. Those with compatible home cameras can view up to nine camera feeds simultaneously using the Home Camera face.
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Privacy is another part of Apple's pitch. The company says the A18 chip uses Secure Exclaves and protected, compartmentalised runtimes to keep camera and microphone data processing isolated from the rest of the system.
There's an additional safeguard for personal information. The HomeView will display it only when it recognises an enrolled user and their paired iPhone or iPad is nearby and has been unlocked recently. This is particularly relevant for a device that sits in a shared space, where other people in the household might otherwise be able to see private messages or calendar entries.