HomeView

Development

Before its official unveiling, reports about Apple's smart home hub have started in late 2024, with early rumors suggesting that the HomePod will have a built-in screen and Apple Intelligence.^[2] Reports of the rumored HomePod product with a touch screen escalated in 2025 with first signs of the new product began surfacing in the beta release of iOS 26.^[3][4] In January 2026, The Information reported early details including, a small display and a robotic swiveling base, and that the product would be released in early 2026.^[5][6] Reports later in March suggest that the product would not launch until late 2026.^[7][8] Throughout development, various placeholder names have been used, including "HomePad", "Smart Home Hub", "HomePod Touch" and "HomeView" (which would be the correct name for the home hub).^[9] References to the rumored HomePod product with a touch screen would later be revealed during the beta cycle of macOS Tahoe.^[10][11]

In October 2026, leaker pdfu reported that Apple would launch the HomeView in four different colors (Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, and Rose Pink),^[12][13] with setup process for the home hub also reported,^[14] and that the HomeView was to be produced in a countertop version with a metal speaker base, and a version that its wall-mounted with a flat, square base.^[9][15] MacRumors reported that Apple was considered using the "homeOS" moniker for its smart home hub operating system after registering related trademarks,^[16] but was opted for the branding "HomeView software" instead.^[17]

Launch

On September 30, 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple would launch a series of new smart home products on October 13, 2026, which included the rumored smart home hub which initially was rumored to be named as "HomePad",^[18] and that the device would have an iMac G4 design.^[19][20] Design details for the upcoming product were also known, suggesting a six-inch display with rounded corners, and that the device would be thick as an iPhone.^[21]

In October 2026, Apple Stores received boxes containing stickers that warned people not to open until October 8. According to the reports, they appear to have "visual merchandise" that relate to upcoming products inside, including the smart home hub.^[22] An Apple event with the tagline "Welcome home" showcased the HomeView alongside the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) and the HomePod mini 2 on October 13, 2026.^[23][24] Additionally, in the event, it was revealed that the European Union would have a late launch due to restrictions on Siri AI.^[25]

Design

The HomeView features a seven-inch touchscreen equipped with True Tone technology, supporting an automatic brightness range from 500 nits for sunlit environments down to 0.3 nits for low-light nightstand use. The interface intelligently scales details based on the user's proximity. It is built with an aluminum housing attached to a domed speaker base via a stainless steel hinge that allows for smooth angle adjustments, similar to the iMac G4.^[29][30]

Hardware

The Apple HomeView uses the A18 chip with TSMC's 3 nm process.^[29][30]

The Apple HomeView features built-in temperature and humidity sensors, alongside an ambient light sensor and accelerometer.^[31]

Operating system

The HomeView runs an operating system called HomeView software, a forked version of iOS and iPadOS.^{[citation needed]} The HomeView will be shipped with HomeView software 27.2 on release. Before its launch, the software had the placeholder name of homeOS.^[17] The operating system does not have the App Store, but media from third-party apps can be streamed from an iPhone via CarPlay.^[32]

Technical specifications

The HomeView software full integration with personal context features requires a paired iPhone running iOS 27.2 or later, or an iPad running iPadOS 27.2 or later.^[33]