Apple announced a new range of products to enhance smart home functionality. HomeView, the centerpiece, emphasizes family sharing and individual personalization, while Home Collection was developed in collaboration with LG and Schneider Electric. HomePod mini 2 and the new Apple TV 4K were also unveiled.
Apple announced new smart home products on 13 October U.S. time. The centerpiece is the tabletop and wall-mounted smart display Apple HomeView, which integrates functions including FaceTime, music playback and smart device management. Centered on Siri AI, its features include facial recognition for up to 6 people, personalized home screens and a Home Camera view that displays up to 9 video feeds simultaneously.
HomeView works with Matter-compatible accessories and Works with Apple Home accessories. The tabletop model is available in 4 colors, while the wall-mounted model comes in 2 colors. Preorders have opened in multiple regions, while some EU countries will be excluded from sales because Siri is unavailable on iOS there.
Home Collection was jointly designed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric and includes indoor and outdoor cameras, thermostats, temperature sensors, video doorbells and smart locks. For privacy, video is protected through local processing and Private Cloud Compute. The stated specifications include the Indoor Cam tilting downward when occupants are home.
HomePod mini 2 launches at $149 and can be combined with Apple TV 4K to enable 4-speaker surround sound. It is available in a total of 5 colors, with preorders opening in the United States and approximately 24 other countries. Siri functions are expected to be added through a software update.
The new Apple TV 4K features the A19 chip and claims performance improvements of up to 50% for the CPU and up to 2x for the GPU, as well as enhanced home hub functionality. Preorders open on 13 October, sales begin on 13 November and the price is $299. These new products are expected to begin shipping from December onward.