News in short

• Apple HomeView is the company’s new smart display for entertainment, communication and home automation.
• The device costs ₹39,900 in India and will go on sale on November 13.
• It features a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 chip and Siri AI.
• Facial recognition supports personalised screens for up to six household members.
• Users can view up to nine compatible smart home camera feeds simultaneously.

Apple has priced the HomeView smart display at ₹39,900 in India. Customers can pre-order it through Apple’s online store and the Apple Store app. Sales will begin on November 13.

The device will be available in four colours: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink and Space Gray. Apple is also offering a wall-mounted version called Apple HomeView (Wall Mounted). Both versions have the same starting price.

The US price is $299, which is roughly ₹28,000 before taxes and local pricing adjustments. Buyers can check the Indian listing on Apple’s official store.

Apple HomeView features and specifications

The Apple HomeView features a 7-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and up to 500 nits of brightness. Its aluminium design includes a speaker base and a stainless steel hinge. The hinge lets users adjust the screen’s tilt for tabletop viewing.

The interface can adapt to a user’s distance from the display. It shows simpler information when someone is across the room and expands details when they move closer. Users can customise the screen with faces such as Photos, Flow and Snoopy. Widgets and shared photo albums are also supported.

Apple has included facial recognition for up to six people. Each recognised household member can access a personalised Home Screen with individual apps and widgets. Personal information in apps such as Messages and Calendar remains restricted to the recognised user. Shared albums and music remain accessible to the household.

Siri AI and smart home controls

The HomeView runs on Apple’s A18 chip and supports Siri AI. The assistant offers broader world knowledge, improved music discovery and onscreen awareness. It can also use personal context from compatible apps. Conversations started on HomeView can continue in the Siri app.

The device acts as a central dashboard for compatible smart home accessories. Users can control lights, thermostats, locks and blinds through touch or voice commands. Its Home Camera face can display up to nine camera feeds simultaneously.

This makes HomeView more than a digital photo frame or a speaker with a screen. It brings home controls, personal information and entertainment into one interface. Its usefulness will depend on how much of a household’s existing setup works with Apple’s ecosystem.

Audio, FaceTime and everyday features

Apple HomeView includes two custom full-range drivers, a down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators. Computational audio adjusts loudness and bass response in real time, according to Apple. The device also supports spatial audio and multiroom playback with compatible HomePod and AirPlay speakers.

For communication, HomeView supports FaceTime with Center Stage. Users can respond to messages by speaking or typing on the screen. In the kitchen, it can display recipes step by step and provide hands-free timer controls.

Privacy and security features

Apple says HomeView uses Secure Exclaves and protected, compartmentalised runtimes in its A18 chip. These systems isolate camera and microphone data processing from the rest of the system.

The display also applies restrictions to personal information. According to Apple, it shows that information only when it recognises an enrolled user and detects their paired iPhone or iPad nearby. The device must also have been recently unlocked.

What Apple HomeView means for smart homes

Apple HomeView combines a smart display, video calling device, audio system and home control panel. Its personalised screens could make shared household use more convenient, while camera feeds offer a single place to check compatible security devices.

However, the ₹39,900 starting price places it in the premium smart home segment. Buyers should consider whether they need a dedicated display and how well their existing accessories integrate with Apple Home. For households already using compatible Apple devices and smart home products, HomeView offers a central way to manage everyday tasks.