Mark calendars: Apple HomeView hub debuts Oct 13, ships mid-Nov with A18 chip and Siri

Apple will introduce a new smart home hub called the HomeView on October 13, according to a report by 9to5Mac citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The device is scheduled to begin shipping to customers in the middle of November. This announcement will occur during Apple’s “Welcome home” event. The HomeView is designed to serve as a central control point for smart home environments, sitting alongside the existing HomePod brand. It represents a significant expansion of Apple’s hardware portfolio in the residential automation sector.

In plain English

The HomeView features a floating display positioned above a speaker base, a design reminiscent of the older iMac G4, according to 9to5Mac. It is powered by an A18 chip. Users will primarily interact with the device using voice commands through Siri. The screen supports touch input, but the experience is centered on viewing content from across the room. The device will run a limited selection of Apple applications. There will be no dedicated App Store for the HomeView. Users may project third-party app widgets from a nearby iPhone onto the screen.

The background

Apple is releasing two versions of the HomeView, according to MacRumors. The countertop model includes a metal speaker base and comes in space gray, silver, starlight, and pink. The wall-mountable version has a flat, square base and is available only in silver or space gray. Gurman stated that the HomeView will offer better sound quality than the new HomePod mini. The device name first appeared in a trademark filing by a shell company, which MacRumors reported on Friday. The “view” component of the name reflects its function as a visual display controlled mainly by voice.

What changes now

The HomeView will launch after updated versions of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini, which are set to arrive on October 30, according to MacRumors. Apple is also preparing a partnership with LG to create compatible smart home accessories, including thermostats, door locks, and doorbells, according to TechCrunch. This initiative marks Apple’s most serious attempt to gain traction in the smart home market after previous challenges with HomeKit and the original HomePod. The ecosystem aims to integrate these devices seamlessly for users.

What to do and how to stay safe: Apple

• Review your current smart home device inventory to identify which products support Apple HomeKit integration.
• Check if your existing smart locks, thermostats, or doorbells are compatible with the upcoming LG partnership ecosystem.
• Monitor Apple’s official announcements on October 13 for detailed specifications regarding the HomeView’s network requirements.
• Plan your budget for mid-November purchases, as the HomeView will not be available immediately after the October announcement.

General security guidance from the Vector Update newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Apple HomeView be available for purchase?

The HomeView will ship to customers in the middle of November, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Does the HomeView have an App Store?

No, the device will not have a dedicated App Store, but it supports a limited selection of Apple applications.

What colors are available for the HomeView?

The countertop model comes in space gray, silver, starlight, and pink; the wall-mount model is silver or space gray.