The best feature of Apple’s HomeView might be its simplicity
Apple’s HomeView is a $299 smart display designed to stay in a fixed, shared place in the home. The article argues that its main strength may be its simplicity: household members can access calendars, smart-home controls and music without finding a phone or unlocking a personal device.
The author says HomeView could address shortcomings of using an iPad for shared household tasks: it can act as an Apple Home hub, is designed for multiple users and does not have a battery or detachable screen that might be misplaced. The piece also highlights potential video calls to family members at home and frames the product as aimed at busy, Apple-focused households, while noting that the author has yet to test it.
- HomeView is designed as an always-available shared household screen.
- It supports Apple Home and is built for multiple users.
- The author sees promise in family calls and everyday home tasks.
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A smart display is a screen with built-in features for tasks such as showing calendars, playing music and controlling connected lights or heating. Unlike a phone or tablet, it is intended to remain in one place so people in a household can use it in passing.
Apple’s HomeView is designed for homes that use Apple devices and services. It may also serve as a hub for Apple’s smart-home system, which lets compatible devices work together; the article’s author says they have not yet tested it.
The appeal of a shared screen depends on whether household members find it useful and easy to use. It could make common tasks and video calls more accessible, while its value will depend on how it works in practice and what alternatives a household already has.
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The case for
A dedicated shared display could make everyday household tasks easier by keeping calendars, music and smart-home controls accessible without relying on someone’s personal phone or a misplaced tablet. Its fixed location, multi-user design and role as an Apple Home hub may make it more practical for busy Apple-using households, including for calling family at home.
The case against
At $299, a device focused on shared household functions may be hard to justify if an existing tablet or phone can do much of the same work. Its appeal also depends on how well the multi-user features work in practice and whether households want a fixed screen in a shared space; the article notes the author has not yet tested it.