By Rajwa Quasim
Apple has introduced a new smart-home display, the HomePod mini 2 and an updated Apple TV 4K as it seeks to strengthen its position in the smart-home market. The company expects an upgraded Siri virtual assistant to help it compete with established rivals.
The company unveiled HomeView, a $299 device with a 7-inch display designed to serve as a central hub for household activities. Apple announced the latest products Tuesday, Oct. 13. HomeView combines smart-home management, entertainment and communication features, allowing users to control connected devices, make FaceTime calls, play music and access other information. It can also control compatible doorbells, thermostats and smart locks.
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HomeView is designed to sit on a tabletop or be mounted on a wall. Apple said its facial recognition technology can identify up to six household members and display personalized apps, notifications and other information for each person. The device is scheduled to begin shipping Nov. 13, with preorders opening Oct. 13. Apple said HomeView will not be available in the European Union because Siri AI is not yet available there.
Apple introduced its Home app in 2016 and launched its HomePod smart speaker in 2018. However, it has struggled to match the reach of Amazon’s Echo products and Google’s Nest devices. With its latest lineup, Apple is placing an upgraded Siri at the center of its smart-home strategy, building on earlier AI improvements developed with Google’s assistance. During a demonstration, Apple showed HomeView responding to requests from multiple family members.
Alongside HomeView, the company announced an updated HomePod mini, a refreshed Apple TV 4K and a collection of smart-home accessories developed in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.
The accessories include the LG C-Wire Power Adapter ($24.95), LG Indoor Cam Plug-In ($199.95), Schneider Home Smart Thermostat ($199.95), LG Floodlight Cam ($399.95), LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In ($299.95) and LG Smart Deadbolt Lock ($349.95). They are designed to integrate with Apple’s Home app, allowing users to manage multiple devices through a single interface rather than relying on separate applications.
The HomePod mini 2, priced at $149, will let users perform tasks such as adding events to a family calendar and asking general-knowledge questions. Apple said the speaker features 100% recycled rare-earth elements in all magnets, along with 100% recycled copper, gold plating and tin solder in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards.
Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of worldwide home product marketing, said, “HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colours, and incredible audio.”
“It fills a room with sound on its own, which gets even bigger in a stereo pair or with multiroom audio, and when paired with the new Apple TV 4K, it delivers our most immersive home theatre setup yet. And with just your voice, HomePod mini makes it easy to securely control your accessories and run automations across the connected home,” Drance added.
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The new Apple TV 4K, priced at $299, supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for a vivid 4K picture. Apple said its A19 chip delivers up to 50% faster CPU performance and up to twice the GPU performance of the previous generation.
The success of these products will depend on whether Apple can deliver a sufficiently reliable, convenient and personalized experience to persuade consumers to choose its higher-priced offerings.