On October 13, Apple unveiled its first smart home hub with a screen, called HomeView. The announcement also included a new Home Collection of cameras, thermostats, and a Matter-compatible smart lock, along with an updated HomePod mini and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. What’s missing from the announcement of the new hub is a European launch date. The HomeView will not be available in the EU for now. The reason is Siri AI, Apple’s new AI-powered voice assistant, which remains the subject of disagreement between the company and the European Commission.
The New HomeView: A Nod to Apple’s iMac G4
HomeView features a square 7-inch display mounted on a speaker base. Those old enough may remember the iMac G4, which Steve Jobs introduced in January 2002. It featured a swiveling, tilting display mounted on a hemispherical base and was affectionately nicknamed the “desk lamp” by fans. HomeView borrows something from that design, but its aluminum body clearly follows the current design language of the iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices. The tabletop version comes in silver, starlight, pink, and space gray.
An integrated 12-megapixel camera enables FaceTime calls. The device is also designed to recognize up to six people and personalize the content displayed for each of them. On-screen touch controls let users manage lights, thermostats, and other compatible devices. HomeView can also display live feeds from up to nine security cameras. It includes Thread connectivity, and even though Apple doesn’t specifically mention it, the HomeView Hub is likely a Matter Controller.
The price is $299. A wall-mounted version without the speaker base will also be available, with either a USB-C connection or an integrated power supply. A model powered over Ethernet (PoE) is due in 2027. Preorders are open now, with sales beginning November 13 in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the UK, and the United States. Apple has not announced EU availability because the company and European authorities are still discussing the regulatory framework. Apple says it is “working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward.”
The company has also yet to announce a German-language version of Siri AI for HomeView. At launch, the voice assistant will be available only in English in supported countries. Canadian French will follow at a later date through a software update. The new hub is therefore limited not only by region but also by language.
The New Home Collection: Made for Apple
The announced Home Collection is a line of accessories developed by Apple in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Apple describes them as “recommended products” for its existing Matter and “Works with Apple Home” ecosystem. The devices are due to begin arriving in December, with select products following in early 2027. Setup is designed to take just a tap with an iPhone. This could mark the first large-scale deployment of NFC (Near Field Communication) commissioning, a method only recently specified in Matter 1.6. All devices support Thread and, according to Apple, automatically update their credentials when the home network changes. That, too, would be a significant improvement in usability.
The collection includes a smart lock, a video doorbell, an indoor camera, two outdoor camera models, and two smart thermostats. LG’s Smart Lock supports Apple Home Key and can also unlock automatically using Ultra Wideband (UWB). It is compatible with both Matter and the Aliro standard and is expected to go on sale in the United States and Canada starting in December for $349.
LG’s Video Doorbell, priced at $249, features two cameras with resolutions of up to 2.5K. One captures visitors, while the other monitors the ground in front of the door – for example, to detect packages that have been left there. It is planned for release in the United States, Canada, and the UK, although Apple has not yet announced a specific launch date. For $199, Apple offers its LG Indoor Camera. It can automatically adjust orientation and supports HomeKit Secure Video. The outdoor cameras are available in a version without lighting for $299 and a variant with motion-activated floodlights for $399. These products are also initially set to launch in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
For thermostats, Apple is working with both LG and Schneider Electric. Each company’s model costs $199 and is designed for North American heating and cooling systems. Both support Matter and are expected to go on sale in the United States and Canada starting in December.
The HomePod mini: Refreshed and Available in New Colors
Apple’s spherical smart speaker is back for another round. It retains its compact shape but has received a hardware update. New features include a more powerful S10 chip, along with support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. The HomePod mini 2 also comes in new colors: pink, green, blue, white, and midnight. The price has increased to €169 in Germany and $149 in the United States.
Another new feature is “Sound Glow,” a light animation on the top of the speaker that pulses along with the music. The smart speaker is also designed to recognize up to six users by their voices and announce who is at the door when connected to cameras or doorbells from the Home Collection. Preorders are underway, and sales begin October 30 in the United States and “more than 23” other countries and regions, which Apple has not individually listed.
Siri AI will be added to the device “in a future software update.” Initially, it will be available in English and in the same eight countries as the HomeView. Paired with an iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence, the upgraded voice assistant is intended to offer its full range of capabilities. It can then draw on a user’s personal context and should help them find exactly what they’re looking for. The EU is once again the exception here – as long as Siri AI is still a ways off. The EU is once again the exception, at least until Siri AI becomes available there.
Fourth-Generation Apple TV 4K
Last but not least, Apple has updated the Apple TV 4K. The fourth-generation model adds a new feature: three built-in far-field microphones enable hands-free Siri control, without requiring users to speak directly into the remote or a connected HomePod.
Responses from the voice assistant appear as text on the TV screen rather than being played through a speaker. When paired with a compatible iPhone, Apple TV 4K will also be able to use Siri AI features, such as incorporating personal information into its recommendations. The upgraded Siri Remote makes it easier to locate the remote with Precision Finding and can also play a sound when needed.
Apple TV has long been more than a streaming box for watching movies. The fourth-generation model once again serves as a home hub and can automate Matter and HomeKit devices. Fortunately, Apple has also abandoned the idea of offering two separate models – with and without a Thread Border Router. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K comes in only one version with Thread, which virtually eliminates the possibility of buying the wrong device. The new model costs $299 in the United States and €349 in Europe. Preorders are open now, with deliveries set to begin November 13.
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