Apple has announced that its HomeView smart display will not launch in Japan, while Amazon’s Echo Show 8 is available at a special ¥23,980 price during the Prime Appreciation Festival. The article compares the two products, focusing on what they can do.
Apple has officially announced the new HomeView smart display, but its launch timing in Japan has not been decided, and its price and the languages supported by Siri have not been specified at this time. The US price is $299, and the launch will be limited to the US and English-speaking countries. The timing of availability in Japan remains unclear.
Meanwhile, Amazon.co.jp is holding its Prime Appreciation Festival, with the Echo Show series included in the sale. The Echo Show 8, which previously had a reference price of ¥34,980, is currently available for ¥23,980, a 31% discount.
The article considers whether the Echo Show 8 is worth buying while comparing what HomeView and Echo Show 8 can do. Their basic functions overlap in areas including music playback, video calls, recipe display, timers and smart-home control.
In addition to the difference in screen size, with HomeView at 7 inches and Echo Show 8 at 8.7 inches, HomeView has an aluminium body and a wall-mountable design. The exterior of the Echo Show 8 has been redesigned for the 2025 model, which features a 13-megapixel camera and speakers that support spatial audio.