Apple Unveils HomeView: $299 Smart Home Display Powered by A18 Chip and homeOS
At its Welcome Home event in New York, Apple officially launched HomeView, a $299 smart display powered by the A18 chip and homeOS with Apple Intelligence and facial recognition.
At an in-person Apple Experience event in Tribeca, New York, on October 13, 2026, Apple officially introduced HomeView, marking the company entry into the dedicated smart display market. Priced at $299 and available in both countertop speaker-dock and flush wall-mounted variants, HomeView combines a 7-inch square Liquid Retina touchscreen with the power of Apple A18 silicon, running the brand-new homeOS operating system to deliver personalized Apple Intelligence widgets, proactive household automation, and Center Stage FaceTime video calling.
7-Inch Liquid Retina Display, A18 Silicon, and homeOS
Designed to serve as the unified command center for connected households, HomeView introduces homeOS, a specialized lightweight operating system tailored for glanceable ambient interaction. Driven by the on-device neural processing engine of the A18 chip, HomeView recognizes individual family members as they approach using on-device computer vision, dynamically switching dashboard widgets, personal calendar reminders, and media recommendations without manual profile switching. The 7-inch anti-reflective Liquid Retina screen provides vibrant touch controls for Matter and Thread accessories while remaining visually unobtrusive on countertops or walls.
Hardware & Architectural Highlights
- A18 Silicon Engine: Powers on-device Apple Intelligence, real-time facial recognition, and low-latency smart home routing.
- 7-Inch Square Liquid Retina Display: High-resolution touch panel with wide viewing angles, ambient True Tone adjustment, and anti-glare coating.
- Dual Form Factor Designs: Available with an acoustic speaker base for tabletop use or a low-profile magnetic flush wall mount.
- homeOS Ambient Platform: Dedicated operating system providing proactive widgets, home security feeds, and ambient standby art.
- Broad Ecosystem Connectivity: Integrates Thread border routing, Matter protocol support, and seamless audio handoff with HomePod mini 2.
Proactive Household Profiles, FaceTime, and Pricing
HomeView integrates a wide-angle camera with Center Stage support for hands-free FaceTime video calls, alongside advanced microphone arrays capable of isolating voice commands over room noise. Pre-orders opened globally on October 13 across Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray finishes, with units arriving to customers on Friday, November 13. The device launches alongside updated smart home hardware, including the second-generation HomePod mini with Sound Glow ambient illumination and an A17 Pro-powered Apple TV 4K.
Product Profile Sheet
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Announcement Date | October 13, 2026 (New York City) |
| Audio Architecture | High-Excursion Speaker Base or External HomePod Pairing |
| Display Panel | 7-inch Square Liquid Retina Touchscreen |
| Finishes Available | Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, Space Gray |
| Hardware Variants | Tabletop Speaker Dock & Magnetic Wall Mount ($299 Each) |
| Operating Platform | Apple homeOS (with On-Device Apple Intelligence) |
| Pre-Order & Shipping Dates | Pre-orders Open Oct 13 / In Stores Nov 13, 2026 |
| Primary Processor | Apple A18 Chip (6-Core CPU & 16-Core Neural Engine) |
| Primary Sources | Apple Newsroom / 9to5Mac / Tom's Guide |