Apple HomeView starts at $299 in the United States and £299 in the United Kingdom. That buys a 7-inch display, speaker, Siri AI and a dedicated place to control your smart home. The big question is whether those conveniences justify buying another Apple device.
The answer comes down to what you already own. HomeView is far easier to recommend to someone with a house full of compatible accessories than to someone who only wants a clock, speaker and occasional video call.
HomeView is most compelling for households using Apple Home, HomeKit and Matter accessories. Lights, scenes, thermostats and supported security cameras are more useful when everyone can access them from the same screen, instead of asking whoever set them up to use their iPhone.
A kitchen is another natural place for it. Timers, calendar information, music, video calling and guided recipes are exactly the kinds of features that benefit from a hands-free screen with a permanent home.
It may also appeal to families who want a shared digital photo frame that does something useful when someone walks up to it.
Anyone mainly interested in streaming apps should consider an iPad instead. HomeView does not have a standard App Store, and its square screen is not ideal for longer videos. The selection of compatible services is smaller than on Apple’s tablets.
If the goal is simply to play music or issue voice commands, a HomePod may be the more economical answer. HomeView’s extra cost is justified by its display and shared controls, not by the speaker alone.
It is also worth checking accessory compatibility carefully. A smart home built around devices that do not work with Apple Home will not necessarily become easier to manage by adding HomeView.
Apple offers tabletop and wall-mounted HomeView versions for the same starting price, but the wall-mounted version requires a separately purchased mount. In the U.S., Apple’s mounting options cost between $59.95 and $129.95. A wall installation can therefore cost noticeably more than the headline $299 figure.
HomeView is designed to be used by multiple people and can surface personal information. The Verge reported an issue during early testing that allowed a family member’s messages to be viewed from another profile. Consider how personal features will be used in shared spaces, and check for any software changes or guidance from Apple.
HomeView looks like a sensible investment for an established Apple smart home, particularly one where several people need quick access to controls. For a household that does not already use those features, $299 (£299) is a lot to spend on a convenience screen. Start with the problem you want it to solve, not the novelty of having one.