HomeView Wall Model: Pay More, Get Fewer Speakers

Apple offers two versions of the HomeView, one that can be wall-mounted and one that is a standalone model with a speaker base. Both the wall-mounted version and the speaker version are priced at $299, with no discount for the baseless model.

Wall mounting is the most expensive option, as most buyers will need hardware that is sold separately and currently starts at $60. There are three options for mounting the HomeView to the wall.

• Power-mount USB-C wall connector ($59.95) – The USB-C mount is from Schneider Home and Apple claims it is a self-installing mount. It uses a standard USB-C cable attached to a power adapter, which the user must also provide. It requires a 20W or higher power adapter.
• Wired AC Power Stand ($79.95) – The AC Wired mount uses wall power, so there are no visible cables. Apple recommends having it installed by a licensed electrician and partners with ADT to offer installation services.
• Wired PoE Power Support ($129.95) – Wired Power over Ethernet support is not available at this time. Apple says to check availability later. You will need a house with PoE cabling.
• No mount – There is the possibility of purchasing the wall-mounted version without additional hardware. Presumably accessory makers will eventually offer mounting solutions, but Apple currently has the only mounting option.

In addition to being more expensive, the wall-mounted HomeView comes in more limited color options. It can only be purchased in silver or space gray, while the speaker version is also available in starlight and pink rose.

Both HomeView models have speakers with “dual custom full-range speakers” in the display, and the wall-mounted version uses computer audio optimized for wall placement. The speaker base model also has a down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators which are not available in the wall-mounted version.

We’ll have to wait for the reviews to see the sound comparisons between the speaker version and the wall-mounted version, but customers who opt for the wall-mounted version will be paying more for less hardware.

The HomeView is available for pre-order now and launches on November 13.