Apple is making a deeper push into the connected home with a new smart display that recognizes household members by face and a more conversational version of its Siri assistant. At a "Welcome Home" event on Oct. 13, the company introduced HomeView, a $299 touchscreen device designed to serve as a central control point for smart home equipment, communications, and personal information.
HomeView features a 7-inch touchscreen mounted on a rounded speaker base and comes in four colors. Apple also plans to sell a wall-mounted version for users who prefer to keep countertops clear. Both models are priced at $299, with preorders opening Oct. 13 and availability beginning Nov. 13. The wall-mounted version requires a separate mounting accessory that starts at $59.95.
The device can recognize up to six household members by their faces. When a person approaches, the screen can switch to a personalized home view showing that individual's calendar and reminders. Another family member can then step up and see their own information instead. Initial setup and support for multiple household members require a compatible iPhone or iPad running the latest software, though general Siri AI conversations do not require an Apple Intelligence-enabled device.
Apple says personal information remains protected through facial recognition and checks involving a paired iPhone or iPad. To display sensitive content, the system requires the recognized person's paired device to be nearby and recently unlocked. That adds a security layer for homes where several people share the same screen.
Beyond personalization, HomeView supports FaceTime video calls with Center Stage, which keeps users in the frame as they move. It can display recipes during cooking, help locate a missing iPhone through Find My, and control compatible smart home equipment without opening another app. The display can also show up to nine live security camera feeds at once, allowing users to check a package delivery or monitor a backyard without reaching for a phone.
Apple's new Siri AI is central to the company's home strategy. The upgraded assistant is designed to handle more natural conversations, understand what is displayed on a screen, and answer broader questions using information from the web. For example, a user could ask Siri to find a recipe someone emailed or locate a song a friend recommended in a message. With the right device connected, Siri can search relevant personal information and help complete those requests. Conversations started on HomeView can continue in the Siri app on other compatible Apple devices.
However, there are important limitations. More personalized Siri features require a paired, compatible device running current software with Siri AI enabled. Siri AI on HomeView is launching in beta, and Apple says certain AI features that use server-based models will have daily usage limits. The company plans to offer expanded access for a fee in the future.
Apple also refreshed its HomePod mini speaker for the first time in years. The HomePod mini 2 costs $149 and comes in five colors, including pink and green. It includes an S10 chip that processes audio in real time to improve sound performance, and a new feature called Sound Glow that makes the speaker's illuminated top change colors and pulse with music.
Apple says the speaker will eventually support more natural conversations and personalized requests when paired with a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. It can also recognize different household members by their voices. But Siri AI will not be available when the HomePod mini 2 first ships; Apple says it will arrive through a future software update. The speaker is available for preorder now and goes on sale Oct. 30.
The company also introduced a new Apple TV 4K with three microphones that can hear Siri requests from across a room. Users can search for a show or ask questions about what they are watching without reaching for the remote. Siri AI can handle follow-up questions, such as asking where a program was filmed.
Together, the announcements show Apple trying to tie its hardware, assistant, and services more tightly into the home. But the company's most advanced features depend on owning compatible Apple devices, and some AI capabilities may eventually carry additional fees. For consumers, the appeal of a more capable smart home now comes with a clearer view of the cost and the ecosystem required to make it work.