I tried out Apple’s HomeView smart display

Apple has introduced its first dedicated smart home display, the HomeView, designed to act as a central hub for household automation and personal assistance. The device features a 7-inch square screen with a Liquid Retina display, offering vibrant visuals and responsive touch capabilities.

The HomeView stands out for its notably compact design, smaller than initially expected, with a nearly flush touchscreen that obscures the device's minimal aluminum base housing its speaker. This design approach results in a sleek aesthetic reminiscent of a larger Apple Watch, but with the operational depth closer to that of an iPhone and the spacious interface one might expect from an iPad.

There are two physical variants available: a wall-mounted version optimized for seamless integration into home environments, and a tabletop model suited for counter or desk placement. Both versions serve as an interactive control panel for smart home functions, featuring a dedicated Home Widget face that aggregates devices from the Apple Home app. Through this interface, users can manage thermostats, door locks, and activate custom scenes with simple taps.

The HomeView also supports live video feeds from HomeKit Secure Video cameras, allowing users to monitor different areas of their home. Accessing associated accessories, such as garage doors, is facilitated within the same interface, although actions like unlocking doors require biometric or device authentication to ensure security.

Interaction with the device revolves heavily around intuitive swipe gestures. Users can switch between various home faces, most of which are inspired by Apple Watch designs, or dive deeper into app controls with taps. Navigation includes swiping up to return to the main screen or to reveal onboard apps, which are automatically synchronized from the user’s iPhone. Swiping down opens a control center similar to the one found on iOS devices, enabling quick access to settings and features like activating the integrated 12MP camera, which can function as a mirror.

Central to the HomeView’s functionality is its integration with Siri AI. The assistant draws upon personal data such as messages and calendar entries to provide contextual responses and automate routines. For instance, Siri can interpret queries about a visitor’s arrival time and transit duration, then schedule home devices like coffee makers accordingly. This level of personalized smart home orchestration represents a significant enhancement over previous Apple Home capabilities, though hands-on experience with these features remains limited.

Beyond its smart home controls, the HomeView supports a guided cooking experience that leverages Siri and Handoff technology. Recipes displayed on an iPhone can be transferred to the HomeView, where they are reformatted into an interactive, step-by-step format complete with timers. While most recipes formatted with Google standards are compatible, how well this feature adapts to formats popular on social media platforms like TikTok is yet to be seen.

Media playback is another aspect demonstrated, with Siri adeptly handling voice requests to play specific songs received via text messages. Although there is a brief delay in song retrieval, the response time is reasonable given the task’s complexity. Additionally, HomeView supports video calls with FaceTime, utilizing Center Stage technology to keep users centered in the frame, making it a practical device for countertop video communication.

The HomeView is priced at $299 and is available for preorder, with shipments scheduled to begin in mid-November. While initial impressions from theverge.com highlight a promising blend of compact design, advanced Siri integration, and versatile smart home control, further testing will be necessary to fully assess its capabilities and user experience within daily routines.