Apple unveils HomeView, the company’s smart display designed for Siri AI

It seems like an eternity since the first reports surfaced that Apple was working on a smart display to rival Amazon’s Echo Show, and finally, the company has finally revealed its take on the smart home screen. HomeView is a touchscreen device that acts as a hub for various connected devices, as well as a personalized control center for audio and more. The device was designed for Siri AI and can adapt its content and functionality based on which members of your family are using it by pulling data from their iPhone or iPad.

The centerpiece of the HomeView is a square 7-inch Liquid Retina display. To me it looks like an enlarged Apple Watch, and the tabletop version with base comes in Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray colors. This model features a base that contains a downward-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators to boost the audio performance of the display’s two full-range speakers. Connecting the screen and base together, a stainless steel hinge lets you adjust the viewing angle.

If you prefer a wall-mounted option, Apple offers the HomeView without a base, but the overall functionality is the same. Interestingly, there are no buttons on HomeView; the touchscreen and your voice are the two ways to interact with the device.

The screen has a peak brightness of 500 nits and goes down to 0.3 nits, which is the lowest brightness Apple has ever offered on any device. This second number is especially important at home, early in the morning or if you plan to place the HomeView on your nightstand. The smart display’s main and passive screens are called Faces, which are customizable with things like artwork, photos, and various clock designs. Once HomeView is unlocked, you’ll see a home screen with four areas for widgets, similar to how you can customize your Apple Watch interface.

At the top of the screen is a 12-megapixel FaceTime camera with Center Stage for video calls. Like the Echo Show and other smart displays, HomeView is certainly equipped to find your friends and family in a way you can see them. Additionally, the device supports voice and video apps, in addition to native iOS apps such as Calendar and Weather. HomeView works like CarPlay in that you don’t download apps to it, but the screen will show your recently used apps in its menu for easy access. And like Apple’s HomePod speakers, you can transfer things like audio or even recipes from your iPhone by holding your handset near HomeView.

Speaking of recipes, Apple has developed a new recipe mode for Safari. As long as you’re looking for a recipe that meets Google’s formatting standards, you’ll get an easy-to-follow format on HomeView. And if you need extra ingredients or set a timer, Siri AI can help.

To power Siri AI, the HomeView has an A18 chip, which also provides the level of data security required for a home device that will use so much personal information. The speaker also uses facial and voice recognition to distinguish users, displaying a personalized interface and list of apps based on who is in front of the device. If you navigate away from HomeView, someone trying to see what you were looking at will get a lock screen. HomeView will also ask you to periodically unlock your iPhone or iPad in order to use it, which you’ll probably do constantly throughout the day anyway. There’s a special setting here for nighttime lulls, so you won’t have to unlock your phone before you start interacting with HomeView in the morning.

A big part of Apple’s smart home effort is the Apple Home collection of devices designed with LG and Schneider Electric. The former worked with Apple on indoor and outdoor cameras as well as a video doorbell, door lock and thermostat. The Schneider Electric collaboration is an additional option for a thermostat. Apple hasn’t said when its Home Collection will be available, but has released prices for all devices, ranging from $199 to $349. These devices will also be easily discoverable by your iPhone, where you’ll see a map like you would to set up AirPods when you bring your phone near them. And as you’d expect, you can control them all on HomeView and get live video feeds on the smart display.

Both versions of HomeView can be pre-ordered today with general availability scheduled for November 13.