Apple has expanded its smart home portfolio with the launch of the $299 HomeView Hub, alongside new connected home accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, as it seeks to strengthen its position against rivals including Amazon and Google.
The HomeView Hub, which will be available from 13 November, features a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and uses facial and voice recognition to provide personalised access to household members’ content and services.
The device supports hands-free commands through Apple’s new Siri artificial intelligence (AI) and allows users to access Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders and Find My. Its front-facing FaceTime camera can recognise up to six users by their appearance or voice, enabling personalised responses for tasks such as checking calendars, making video calls, viewing recipes and listening to music.
Apple is offering the hub in two configurations: a tabletop model powered by a USB-C cable and a wall-mounted version with connectivity options including Ethernet and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The PoE mounting option will be available in early 2027.
CCS Insight chief analyst Ben Wood, who attended Apple’s 13 October event in New York City, said the HomeView Hub had a distinctive design compared with competing smart home devices.
“It will be immediately familiar to anyone who has used an Apple Watch, and Apple has the advantage that it can use Apple ID to easily and securely identify individuals in a household to provide information specifically about them,” he said.
Wood said the launch coincided with Apple’s renewed focus on Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, adding that the company had likely been waiting for an upgraded Siri experience because of the importance of voice interactions to the product.
Apple partners LG and Schneider Electric
As part of its wider smart home expansion, Apple has partnered with LG Electronics Inc. and Schneider Electric SE to introduce the Apple Home Collection, a range of accessories comprising indoor and outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, thermostats and door locks.
The products will be priced between $199 and $399, with availability beginning in December and selected accessories expected in early 2027.
Wood said the partnerships indicated Apple’s willingness to work beyond its own ecosystem to develop products and services, while maintaining close collaboration on design, engineering and user experience.
He argued that the initiative could help address one of the smart home sector’s biggest challenges: the complexity of connecting and managing different devices.
“By making cameras, a lock, thermostats and a doorbell as easy to connect as AirPods, the companies address one of the sector’s biggest hurdles: the complexity of getting things working,” he said.
AppWood added that Apple could use its retail network to demonstrate the new collection as a complete smart home solution, potentially attracting consumers who had considered adopting smart home technology but were concerned about its complexity.
He said the company’s established reputation, focus on privacy and ability to deliver a seamless experience could help it attract customers despite competition from Amazon’s Ring, Google’s Nest and Arlo.
Apple updates TV and HomePod devices
Alongside the HomeView Hub and Home Collection, Apple unveiled an updated Apple TV 4K set-top box featuring built-in microphones, an easier-to-find remote control and Siri AI for hands-free voice interactions.
Customers in the United States and 29 other countries and regions can pre-order the device through Apple’s online store and Apple Store app from 13 October, with in-store availability beginning on 13 November.
The updated Apple TV 4K is priced at $299 or $9.83 per month for six months.
Apple also introduced the HomePod mini 2, a refreshed smart speaker available in pink, green, blue, white and midnight. It features lighting animations that reflect the album artwork of the music being played.
The speaker supports standalone playback, stereo pairing and multiroom audio. When connected to the new Apple TV 4K, four HomePod mini 2 speakers can be configured to create a surround-sound home cinema system, which Apple describes as its most immersive home theatre set-up to date.
Multiple users can also control smart home accessories and automations through secure voice commands.
The HomePod mini 2 is available for pre-order from 13 October, with sales beginning on 30 October. It is priced at $149.
