Overview
- The HomeView will begin shipping Friday, Nov. 13, and preorders remain open with only a few days left to lock in any retailer discounts.
- Amazon is offering a live pre‑order discount but outlets report slightly different prices for the Space Gray model, with MacRumors citing $289.99 and MacTrast citing $298.99.
- Apple positions HomeView as a privacy‑focused Siri AI home hub with a 7‑inch Liquid Retina display, an A18‑class chip, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and on‑device face recognition for up to six users.
- Key personal features—like reading Messages, Calendar entries, and other context—require a nearby Apple Intelligence‑enabled iPhone and an iCloud account, which raises trade‑offs between on‑device privacy and Apple ecosystem dependence.
- Early developer software builds exposed camera and Secure Video strings that could add HomeKit Secure Video features via updates, and Apple has tested a higher‑end swiveling prototype for 2027–2028 that faces software delays.