Apple’s “Welcome Home” event is finally here after days of rumours and speculation.
At the event, the company unveiled the HomeView, its first smart home display. It features a 7-inch square screen, a speaker base and a camera that can recognise up to six household members. It costs $299.
Apple also refreshed the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, alongside a collection of smart home accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Here’s everything announced at the event.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
The HomeView, Apple’s first smart display
The HomeView features a 7-inch square Liquid Retina display mounted on a rounded speaker base. It can sit on a countertop or be wall-mounted, and comes in silver, starlight, rose pink and space grey.
Its 12MP camera supports FaceTime calls and can recognise up to six household members, switching to personalised content when recognition features are enabled. The screen can display smart home controls, clock faces and photos, while users can manage compatible devices and view feeds from up to nine security cameras.
HomeView also supports Apple Intelligence-powered Siri features, including personal context and descriptions of security camera footage, through a connected iPhone.
It costs $299, with preorders opening on October 13 and availability starting November 13.
The HomePod mini 2
The HomePod mini 2 costs $149, which is $50 more than the original model. It retains the familiar spherical design and comes in pink, blue, green, white, and midnight.
Its updated top-panel lighting includes a “Sound Glow” feature that matches the illumination to album artwork and other visual effects. Inside, it runs on the S10 chip and supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and Matter. Siri AI support through a connected iPhone is coming in a later software update.
You can connect four speakers for surround sound, using four HomePod mini 2 units, four second-generation HomePods, or two of each. The speakers can also calibrate automatically with the new Apple TV 4K.
Preorders open on October 13, with shipping starting October 30.
The Apple TV 4K
Apple has introduced a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K with built-in far-field microphones, allowing users to give Siri voice commands without speaking into the remote or a connected HomePod.
Siri displays its answers on the television rather than speaking them aloud. The updated box also supports Siri AI features through a compatible iPhone, including recommendations based on personal context.
If you misplace the remote, you can ask Siri to locate it. The remote can play a sound, while Bluetooth Channel Sounding helps an iPhone pinpoint its location.
Preorders open on October 13, with availability expected on November 13.
The Home Collection: cameras, locks and thermostats
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