Apple has opened pre-orders for its HomeView smart display, the company said in a statement, but will not sell the device in the European Union, citing the absence of regulatory approval for its Siri AI system in that market. The display is priced at $299 in the United States and $449 in Australia for either a tabletop or wall-mounted variant, with shipping beginning 13 November.
HomeView runs on Apple's A18 chip with its own operating system and can recognise up to six household members by their faces, switching to each user's personal data including Messages, FaceTime, Calendar and Find My. The tabletop version includes a built-in subwoofer in a tiltable domed speaker base, which the wall-mounted version lacks. Apple stated that no user data is used for marketing, including for its own advertising, and that private data is not stored on the device itself but processed in an encrypted section of the chip.
The launch enters a market where Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub already compete. Analysts previously identified two challenges for Apple in smart home products: making devices work with third-party products and Siri's limited ability to deliver useful answers. Apple introduced its Home app in 2016 and HomePod smart speakers in 2018.
Apple said it is working constructively with the European Union to make Siri AI available there. The company's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak said HomeView is designed to be shared across a household while feeling personal to each user, drawing on context from a user's iPhone while keeping information private. Apple also announced the HomePod mini 2 in new colours at $149, up from $129, and the Apple TV 4K at $299 with a redesigned remote that emits a sound to help locate it.
Australian consumers who do not have Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhones or iPads will have more limited access to Siri AI personalisation features, as the functions require a compatible Apple device on the same home network. The company's Home Collection security accessories will not be sold in Australia at their December launch, with no confirmation of local availability.
Official statements: Apple
Reporting: CNBC, The Guardian, ACS Information Age, CNA
Written by Pick & Scroll News from the reporting and documents linked above.
