Image: The Apple Post
Apple’s new HomeView smart home hub is reportedly set to launch in two distinct versions, giving buyers the choice of a countertop model with an integrated speaker base or a separate wall-mounted design.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the countertop HomeView will use a metal speaker base and be offered in space gray, silver, starlight and pink. The wall-mounted version is expected in space gray and silver.
The two designs would give Apple a way to position the same smart home interface in very different parts of a house, from kitchen counters and bedside tables to hallways and shared walls.
The countertop model is expected to pair the display with a substantial speaker base, creating a product that combines visual information, Siri controls and music playback in a single device.
Bloomberg says the HomeView’s audio quality will exceed that of the upcoming HomePod mini, suggesting the speaker base is more than simply a stand for the display.
The wall-mounted model takes a different approach. It is expected to use a flatter square base and a more limited silver and space gray palette, potentially making it easier to blend into permanent home installations.
Both versions are expected to use the same broader HomeView platform, with an A18 chip and a Siri-first interface designed around viewing information from across a room.
The Apple Post previously rounded up what to expect from Apple’s October 13 “Welcome home” launch, where the HomeView is expected to debut alongside a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini.
HomeView is reportedly scheduled to reach customers around mid-November, giving Apple several weeks between the product’s unveiling and its release.