Apple unveiled a new smart home device called the HomeView during an event in New York on Tuesday as part of its efforts to revitalize its product lineup and expand its presence in artificial intelligence (AI). The HomeView is a seven-inch tablet capable of recognizing up to six household members and personalizing content accordingly. It will be available in two versions: one designed for placement on countertops and another for wall mounting. The device is set to launch in eight countries, including the United States, Britain, and India, but will not initially be available in the European Union due to the absence of the updated Siri AI assistant in the region. Pricing starts at $299, with availability beginning November 13.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, described the HomeView as a device meant to be shared by all family members while offering a personalized experience to each user. The tablet incorporates an upgraded version of Apple’s digital assistant, Siri, which was refreshed earlier this year. The company emphasized that to compete successfully in a market where many customers already carry iPhones, Siri must prove useful in a family setting rather than only serving individuals, according to Carolina Milanesi, president of the consumer research firm Creative Strategies.
The introduction of the HomeView coincides with broader changes at Apple. Just a month prior, John Ternus succeeded Tim Cook as the company's CEO, inheriting challenges that include years of incremental updates to core products and setbacks with innovation, such as the mixed reality headset Vision Pro. The launch follows last month's introduction of the iPhone Duo, a foldable smartphone that marked Apple's entry into a category dominated by earlier rivals. Apple’s strategy appears to focus on delivering polished devices and leveraging its supply chain to quickly meet consumer demand.
The smart home market, centered around internet-connected appliances like thermostats, doorbells, and security systems, has faced hurdles including complexity, lack of common standards, privacy concerns, and obsolescence linked to software updates. Apple aims to tackle these issues by integrating AI more deeply into its devices. The HomeView will support control of smart home accessories, developed in partnership with LG and Schneider Electric, including locks, video doorbells, and thermostats.
In addition to the HomeView, Apple announced refreshed versions of the HomePod mini smart speaker and the Apple TV 4K streaming device. Both will feature faster processors to support advanced AI capabilities. The HomePod mini will retail starting at $149, and the Apple TV 4K at $299. This represents a price increase from earlier this year when Apple raised prices on both devices amid a global shortage of memory chips affecting the cost of consumer electronics.
Apple’s smart home devices have struggled to gain significant market share compared to competitors such as Amazon and Google. In the first half of the year, Apple held roughly 10% of the smart speaker market, while Amazon controlled nearly half, according to Counterpoint Research. Earlier Apple smart home products, including the original HomePod released in 2018 and its smaller counterpart launched in 2020, received praise for audio quality but were criticized for the limitations of Siri in performing everyday tasks.
With the HomeView and updated devices, Apple hopes to demonstrate renewed innovation and secure a stronger foothold in the increasingly AI-driven connected home market.