Apple’s new HomeView lineup has an unusual pricing problem: the standard tabletop model and the Wall Mounted version both cost exactly the same, despite the wall-mounted model requiring customers to spend even more before they can actually use it.
Apple opened pre-orders for HomeView this week, pricing both Apple HomeView and Apple HomeView (Wall Mounted) at $299 in the United States and £299 in the United Kingdom. On paper, that makes choosing between the two designs look straightforward. In reality, the Wall Mounted model comes with another unavoidable cost.
Unlike the regular HomeView, which includes its domed tabletop speaker base and can be placed on a counter, desk or nightstand out of the box, Apple says HomeView (Wall Mounted) requires a separate mount and power solution to operate. Those mounts are made by Schneider Home and sold separately through Apple.
The cheapest option is the Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector, priced at $59.95 in the U.S. and £54.95 in the UK. That takes the real starting price of a usable wall-mounted HomeView to $358.95 or £353.95 — and even then, a minimum 20W USB-C power adapter is also required and sold separately.
Image: Apple
Customers wanting a cleaner hardwired installation pay more again. The Power Mount AC Wired costs $79.95 in the U.S. or £69.95 in the UK, while Apple recommends installation by a licensed or qualified electrician. A Power over Ethernet version will cost $129.95 in the U.S. or £119.95 in the UK when it becomes available.
That makes Apple’s decision to charge the same $299/£299 for both HomeView models difficult to understand. The standard version includes the substantial domed base and needs no additional mounting hardware, while the flatter Wall Mounted version removes that tabletop base yet starts at the same price before a compulsory accessory is added.
There may be manufacturing reasons why the two models cost Apple similar amounts to produce, and the Wall Mounted model still offers the same 7-inch Liquid Retina display, HomeView features and audio experience. But from a customer’s perspective, the pricing effectively means paying more overall for the version that arrives with less of what is needed to actually install and use it.
Apple could have made the proposition easier to understand by pricing HomeView (Wall Mounted) below the standard model, or by including at least the basic USB-C mount in the box. Instead, customers choosing the wall-mounted design are asked to pay the same upfront price and then add at least another $59.95 or £54.95 before accounting for a power adapter.
HomeView was unveiled at Apple’s “Welcome home” event with a 7-inch display, Siri AI, FaceTime, entertainment features and smart-home controls. Both versions are available to pre-order now ahead of their November 13 release.
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