Apple Unveils HomeView Smart Home Device with Facial Recognition

Apple has expanded its product line beyond traditional devices with the introduction of the Apple HomeView, a new smart home management system priced at £299.

Announced at an event in New York, the HomeView features a 7-inch display capable of recognizing up to six family members' faces. Upon identification, it tailors the user experience, accessing personal information such as calendars and messages, and can adjust settings based on the recognized individual. If no user is present, it defaults to displaying shared content like photo albums and music.

The HomeView is available in two forms: a freestanding unit with a domed speaker base offered in silver, starlight, rose pink, and space grey, and a wall-mounted model in space grey and silver. The device leverages Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, allowing for conversational continuity from other Apple products and the ability to answer questions on a wide range of topics.

Beyond its personalized interface, the HomeView offers smart home control capabilities. Users can monitor live feeds from up to nine cameras, adjust thermostats and lighting, and control smart locks and blinds. The device can also detect the sounds of smoke or carbon monoxide alarms and send alerts to a user's iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch when they are away from home.

Privacy is a core consideration for the HomeView. Personal content is only accessible when the enrolled user is recognized by face and their iPhone or iPad is present and recently unlocked. The device is available for pre-order starting today, with sales beginning November 13.

Apple also announced updates to its existing product line at the New York event, including the HomePod Mini 2, priced at £149/$149, which features Siri AI and enhanced audio and comes in five colors. The next generation of the Apple TV 4K was also revealed at £299/$299, featuring built-in far-field microphones for hands-free Siri interaction.