Apple Unveils HomeView Smart Speaker With Square Screen
Apple has announced the HomeView, a new smart speaker with a seven-inch square screen. The device acts as a home hub and will be available for $299.
At its Welcome Home event in New York on Tuesday, Apple introduced the HomeView, a smart speaker that functions as a central hub for home control, communication, and entertainment. The announcement, reported by CNET News, marks Apple's entry into a product category that blends a smart speaker with a display.
The most striking aspect of the HomeView is its seven-inch Liquid Retina screen, which is square. This design choice sets it apart from most competing smart displays, which typically feature rectangular landscape screens. The device resembles a mix between a HomePod and a large Apple Watch.
Beyond media playback, the HomeView serves as a portal for controlling smart home devices and interacting with Apple Intelligence and Siri. It includes built-in facial recognition to identify family members, allowing them to access personal content such as Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders, and Find My. When paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device, the HomeView can use personal context to provide tailored answers to questions.
Apple offers two physical configurations: one that sits on a tabletop and another that mounts to a wall. Customers must choose at the time of purchase—either the wall-mounted version or one with a domed speaker base attached.
Pre-orders are open now in the US, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and the UK. The HomeView is priced at $299 and will be available starting November 13. It comes in silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray.
The launch positions Apple against existing smart display makers, though the company's emphasis on personal context and facial recognition could differentiate it. For users, the HomeView promises deeper integration with Apple's ecosystem, but the requirement to choose a mounting option upfront may limit flexibility. Developers may gain new opportunities if Apple opens the platform to third-party apps, but no such details were provided. The wider market impact remains to be seen, as Apple has not disclosed sales targets or analyst expectations.
This report is based solely on information from CNET News. No independent verification or additional sources were provided.
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