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TechMoving now · day 8

Apple launches HomeView smart display, new Apple TV 4K and Siri AI at 'Welcome Home' event

Apple debuts a $299 smart home hub, a Siri AI-powered Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2 and a third-party accessory line, drawing early price and openness criticism.

Part of a larger narrative

Apple's Smart Home Offensive

6 stories · since Sep 25 · newest 59m ago — Apple is mounting a major push into the smart home market with new hardware announcements and manufacturing partnerships, signaling a strategic pivot toward…

  1. Apple's wall-mounted HomeView costs the same $299 but excludes the required mount
  2. Apple launches $149 HomePod Mini 2, but Siri AI won't work at launch
  3. Apple launches HomeView smart display, new Apple TV 4K and Siri AI at 'Welcome Home' eventyou are here
  4. macOS 27.2 beta code adds fuel to Apple's touchscreen MacBook rumors
  5. Apple confirms Oct. 13 ‘Welcome Home’ event in New York for smart home push
All 6 stories in this narrative →

What to know

  • Apple's 'Welcome Home' event on October 13, 2026 introduced its first smart home hub, HomeView ($299), alongside a new Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2, and a third-party 'Apple Home Collection' built with LG and Schneider Electric.
  • Siri AI, a new conversational assistant powered by next-generation Apple Intelligence, is the centerpiece across the new Apple TV 4K and HomeView, enabling full-screen search and personal-context answers.
  • Early Hacker News discussion (830+ comments) pushes back on HomeView's pricing and closed ecosystem, with many arguing a repurposed old iPad offers comparable functionality for less money.
  • HomePod mini 2 ships without Siri AI support at launch, and reviewers note HomeView adds limited new smart-home capability despite its new hardware.

The dispute Whether HomeView/Apple TV 4K represent genuine new value or just expensive, locked-down hardware duplicating what an old iPad or media server already does. · positions read across 162 posts and comments

most voices

HomeView is overpriced compared to repurposing an old iPad for the same tasks.

  • “The weird thing about this product is that its biggest competitor is "an old ipad." I feel like most of their target customer base already has an old ipad that's better suited for what this does in every way.”

    schmichael · Hacker News ↗
many voices

The devices are closed platforms with no third-party app support, reflecting Apple's neglect of this hardware category.

  • “So weird. A brand new product category, and it gets dropped with the HomePod Mini/Apple TV, aka Apple's most neglected products... Also completely locked out for 3rd party developers, needs your iPhone to do anything.”

    gyomu · Hacker News ↗
some voices

There is still a practical niche use, such as replacing an Amazon Echo Show for HomeKit control.

  • “I've had one Echo device or multiple around the house since they launched... HomeKit is visible across 20 devices used by a family of 5 and made sense to expose all my devices through it.”

    mleo · Hacker News ↗

Apple ManufacturerBob Borchers Apple VP of Worldwide Product MarketingLG Electronics Hardware partnerSchneider Electric Hardware partner

Apple launches HomeView smart display, new Apple TV 4K and Siri AI at 'Welcome Home' event
macrumors.com

How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 281 pieces in two hours at Yesterday, 7 AM; 578 pieces over 8 days (348 articles · 1 video · 115 posts · 114 comments) Oct 6, 9 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Oct 6, 11 AM — quietOct 6, 1 PM — quietOct 6, 3 PM — quietOct 6, 5 PM — quietOct 6, 7 PM — quietOct 6, 9 PM — quietOct 6, 11 PM — quietOct 7, 1 AM — quietOct 7, 3 AM — quietOct 7, 5 AM — quietOct 7, 7 AM — quietOct 7, 9 AM — quietOct 7, 11 AM — quietOct 7, 1 PM — quietOct 7, 3 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 2, Hacker News 1Oct 7, 5 PM — quietOct 7, 7 PM — quietOct 7, 9 PM — quietOct 7, 11 PM — quietOct 8, 1 AM — quietOct 8, 3 AM — quietOct 8, 5 AM — quietOct 8, 7 AM — quietOct 8, 9 AM — quietOct 8, 11 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — X 2, Google News 1Oct 8, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 8, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 8, 5 PM — quietOct 8, 7 PM — quietOct 8, 9 PM — quietOct 8, 11 PM — quietOct 9, 1 AM — quietOct 9, 3 AM — quietOct 9, 5 AM — quietOct 9, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 9, 9 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 9, 11 AM — 6 pieces · 6 articles — Google News 5, Newswires 1Oct 9, 1 PM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 1Oct 9, 3 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 9, 5 PM — quietOct 9, 7 PM — quietOct 9, 9 PM — quietOct 9, 11 PM — quietOct 10, 1 AM — quietOct 10, 3 AM — quietOct 10, 5 AM — quietOct 10, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 10, 9 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Mastodon 1Oct 10, 11 AM — quietOct 10, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 10, 3 PM — quietOct 10, 5 PM — quietOct 10, 7 PM — quietOct 10, 9 PM — quietOct 10, 11 PM — quietOct 11, 1 AM — quietOct 11, 3 AM — quietOct 11, 5 AM — quietOct 11, 7 AM — 6 pieces · 5 articles · 1 post — Google News 3, Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Oct 11, 9 AM — 71 pieces · 58 articles · 13 posts — Newswires 46, Mastodon 12, Google News 10, +2 moreOct 11, 11 AM — 10 pieces · 7 articles · 3 posts — Google News 4, Newswires 3, Mastodon 3Oct 11, 1 PM — 8 pieces · 8 articles — Google News 7, Newswires 1Oct 11, 3 PM — 9 pieces · 5 articles · 4 posts — Mastodon 4, Google News 3, Newswires 2Oct 11, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Oct 11, 7 PM — quietOct 11, 9 PM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Google News 1, Newswires 1Oct 11, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 12, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 12, 3 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Google News 1, Hacker News 1Oct 12, 5 AM — quietOct 12, 7 AM — 10 pieces · 9 articles · 1 post — Newswires 4, Mastodon 3, Google News 3Oct 12, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 12, 11 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Google News 1, Newswires 1Oct 12, 1 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 12, 3 PM — quietOct 12, 5 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 12, 7 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Mastodon 2Oct 12, 9 PM — quietOct 12, 11 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Yesterday, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Yesterday, 3 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 1, Google News 1Yesterday, 5 AM — 15 pieces · 15 articles — Google News 13, Newswires 2Yesterday, 7 AM — 281 pieces · 200 articles · 71 posts · 10 comments — Newswires 162, Mastodon 51, Google News 26, +3 moreYesterday, 9 AM — 41 pieces · 1 video · 6 posts · 34 comments — Hacker News 34, Mastodon 5, Bluesky 1, +1 moreYesterday, 11 AM — 29 pieces · 29 comments — Hacker News 29Yesterday, 1 PM — 15 pieces · 15 comments — Hacker News 15Yesterday, 3 PM — 14 pieces · 14 comments — Hacker News 14Yesterday, 5 PM — 6 pieces · 6 comments — Hacker News 6Yesterday, 7 PM — 3 pieces · 3 comments — Hacker News 3Yesterday, 9 PM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Hacker News 1Yesterday, 11 PM — 2 pieces · 2 comments — Hacker News 2 123–6
Oct 7Oct 8Oct 9Oct 10Oct 11Oct 12yesterdaynow · 1:47 AM ET
  1. 6

    Hacker News thread criticizes HomeView's price and closed platform

    A 830-comment Hacker News discussion argued an old iPad does most of what HomeView offers for less, and flagged the device's lack of third-party app support as a major limitation.

    “The weird thing about this product is that its biggest competitor is "an old ipad." ... Have apps! How does this not support apps?!”
    — schmichael
    • The weird thing about this product is that its biggest competitor is "an old ipad." I feel like most of their target customer base already has an old ipad that's better suited for what this does in every way. Old ipads:1. Have a battery so you're not tied to a cord. Even old poor batteries are better than no battery.2. Have apps! How does this not…

      schmichaelHacker News14h agoview on Hacker News ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 110 posts in this stretch
    • kcurry.bsky.social

      apple announces homepod mini 2 but it still can't handle siri ai. that's being added later, somehow. also new sound glow feature because who doesn't want syncing lights with album art? {

      kcurry.bsky.socialBluesky15h agoview on Bluesky ↗
    • eARCwelder@mastodon.social

      Ok Apple did more than I expected; you can now use 4x HomePod mini or full-sized HomePod with an Apple TV for surround sound https://www. apple.com/newsroom/2026/10/app le-unveils-the-new-apple-tv-4k/

      eARCwelder@mastodon.socialMastodon15h agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 5

    Reviewers call HomeView stylish but smart-home-light

    Early hands-on coverage from The Verge, Wired and Engadget described HomeView as closer to an oversized Apple Watch or iPhone hybrid, praising its design and Siri AI but noting it adds little genuinely new smart-home functionality and leans on privacy features like hiding messages from kids.

    “The new Apple TV 4K is our most immersive home theater experience yet. With Siri AI, finding something to watch becomes a full-screen, conversational experience, and with built-in far-field microphones, it's completely hands-free.”
    — Bob Borchers, Apple VP Worldwide Product Marketing · source
    1. first by TechCrunch, 16h ago · also Indian Express, Mashable, HN Best, HN Frontpage, Apple

      4 more headlines
    2. first by Engadget, 16h ago · also 9to5Mac

      2 more headlines
    2 more claims →
    • This is a nice design, and a very aggressive price. I like the design enough I'm interpreting that price as a sign Apple's serious about getting these into a lot of homes.. I wasn't thinking I'd buy one of these, but I changed my mind looking at the pitch -- at this price it's sort of a 'hmm, I could imagine wanting one of those in X room'.I'm…

      vessenesHacker News16h agoview on Hacker News ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
    • Apple just announced HomePod mini 2. It has Siri AI, new colors (green, pink, blue, midnight, white) and a Sound Glow light display that pulses with your music. Pre-orders open today, and it launches October 30 for $149. Details:

      9to5mac@threads.netMastodon16h agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • The thing on the stand is goofy, partly because it's like a large Apple Watch. Especially goofy when it's pictured with a hand, and it isn't actually all that big. But their wall mounted design looks interesting, kind of for the same reason? Aesthetically it immediately makes me think of a wall clock, which tells me exactly where it belongs. I…

      dylan-mHacker News16h agoview on Hacker News ↗
    all of them →
  3. background

    Apple announces Apple TV 4K with Siri AI and A19 chip — The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K adds far-field microphones for hands-free Siri AI, a full-screen conversational search experience, and an A19 chip delivering up to 50% faster CPU and 2x faster GPU performance; it ships November 13.

  4. 3

    Apple debuts HomePod mini 2 and Apple Home Collection accessories

    Apple also announced a refreshed HomePod mini 2 (not Siri AI-ready at launch) and an 'Apple Home Collection' of cameras, a smart lock, and thermostats co-developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

    1. first by Financial Times, 16h ago · also Redmond Pie, Appleosophy, MobileSyrup, T3, iThinkDifferent, Six Colors +7

      12 more headlines
    2. 9 outlets first by Firstpost, 2d ago · also Business Today, MacRumors Forums, MacRumors, AppleInsider, Pluang, Kursiv Media Узбекистан +2 · read ↗

    6 more claims →
    • > Apple HomeView is not available for sale in the European Union, as Siri AI is currently unavailable in iOS in the EU. Apple is working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward.It's interesting that they consider that this product would be unusable without Siri AI. I've used a Google Nest Hub for years, and I don't think it…

      timperaHacker News16h agoview on Hacker News ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 20 posts in this stretch
    • appleinsider@mastodon.social

      Years of rumors have finally culminated in the 6-inch square $299 HomeView. It's the portable smart home dashboard you've been waiting for, that ties into the Apple ecosystem. https:// appleinsider.com/articles/26/1 0/13/two-homeview-home-hub-models-evolve-apples-home-strategy-at-299-each?utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon

      appleinsider@mastodon.socialMastodon16h agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • Apple has finally announced a new Apple TV 4K for $299 after nearly 4 years. It looks like the old model but is now powered by the A19 chip. The set-top box also adds 3 microphones to enable Siri AI completely hands-free, and an updated remote enables Find My with a speaker.

      @appltrackX16h agoview on X ↗
    all of them →
  5. 4

    Apple unveils HomeView, its first smart home hub

    Apple introduced Apple HomeView, a $299, 7-inch Liquid Retina display with Center Stage camera, beamforming mics, and built-in Siri AI, available in countertop and wall-mounted versions, with preorders open and availability November 13.

    1. 28 outlets first by Bloomberg Tech, 2d ago · also 9to5Mac, BigGo Finance, MacDailyNews, The Ambient, Trusted Reviews, Tech Times +21 · read ↗

    2. first by The Ambient, 16h ago · also Six Colors, Dexerto, iClarified, The Apple Post, XDA Developers, iPhone in Canada +3

      9 more headlines
    14 more claims →
    • Apple announces surprise ‘Welcome home’ launch event https://www. theverge.com/tech/1008782/appl e-welcome-home-event-news-announcements?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into The Verge @ the-verge-theverge

      theverge@flipboard.comMastodon17h ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 15 posts in this stretch
    • Apple HomeView is finally here, and I think this might be one of Apple's most exciting products in years! 👀🏠 ✅ 7-inch Liquid Retina display 🧠 New Siri AI built in 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Recognizes up to 6 family members 🏡 Control your entire smart home 📹 View up to 9 security cameras at once 📞 FaceTime...

      @nandoprince93X16h agoview on X ↗
    • TechDesk@flipboard.social

      Here's what to expect from Apple's "Welcome Home" event today, which is expected to start in a few minutes: https:// flip.it/IfamsF If you don't have time to watch the event, follow our human-curated Magazine for the latest Apple News: https:// flipboard.com/@thenewsdesk/lat est-apple-news-t95df8u5y # Apple # HomeOS

      TechDesk@flipboard.socialMastodon16h agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  6. 1 day quiet
  7. 2

    Leaks detail new Apple TV 4K and HomePod ahead of event

    Reports citing Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new Apple TV 4K would get a standard A19 chip (up from A15) and an easier-to-find Siri Remote, with a new HomePod mini also expected at Apple's upcoming 'Welcome home' showcase.

    1. first by ChannelNews.com.au, 16h ago · also Digital Trends, Cord Cutters News, Media Play News, Business Today, AppleInsider, BGR

      6 more headlines
    2. first by Streaming Better, 16h ago · also FlatpanelsHD, Pocket-lint, iThinkDifferent, The Verge, MacRumors

      5 more headlines
    5 more claims →
    • markgurman@mastodon.social

      Power On: Apple spent a decade losing the smart home. Now it has a plan to compete: HomeView, a new Apple TV and HomePod mini, and LG-built accessories. Tuesday’s unveiling is about protecting the iPhone as much as outfitting your house. https://www. bloomberg.com/news/newsletters…

      markgurman@mastodon.socialMastodon2d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
    • gradientbrief.bsky.social

      Apple is set to announce a new smart home hub called the HomeView on Tuesday, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, following multiple earlier reports on the product. #Apple #SmartHome #HomeView

      gradientbrief.bsky.socialBluesky2d agoview on Bluesky ↗
    • NEW: Apple's HomeView smart home display isn't expected to ship until around mid-November. The new Apple TV and HomePod mini are on track to arrive Oct. 30, with preorders opening this coming week.

      @markgurmanX2d agoview on X ↗
    all of them →
  8. 1 day quiet
  9. 1

    Apple adds original Apple TV 4K to 'vintage' list

    Apple marked the 2017 Apple TV 4K as a vintage product, a signal widely read as confirmation a new model was imminent.

    1. first by Mastodon, 4d ago · also 9to5Mac

      1 more headline
    2. first by AppleInsider, 4d ago

    • Apple's got a kitchen gadget? What we expect Apple to show us at an event on Tuesday https:// mashable.com/tech/apples-kitch en-gadget-smart-home-event-leaks?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into All the Biggest Apple News in One Place @ all-the-biggest-apple-news-in-one-place-Mashable

      Mashable@flipboard.comMastodon4d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 3 posts in this stretch
    • So many products at this event, it seems: - HomePad 6-inch smart home display - HomePod mini with Siri AI - Apple TV 4K with Siri AI - LG Video Doorbell Wired - LG Floodlight Cam - LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In - LG Indoor Cam Plug-In - LG Smart Deadbolt Lock - LG Smart Thermostat - LG Temperature Sensor ...

      @legendaryscoopX5d agoview on X ↗
    • Apple has officially teased new products coming on October 13 👀🍎 Rumours have been building for a while around updates to Apple's home lineup, with a new Home Hub, HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K all expected to be in the mix. If the rumours are right, this could be Apple's biggest push into the s...

      @emkwanX5d agoview on X ↗
    all of them →

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. first by Tom's Guide, 16h ago · also MacRumors, Gizmodo

    2 more headlines
  2. first by Tom's Guide, 16h ago · also The Shortcut, The Apple Post

    2 more headlines
  3. first by Tom's Guide, 16h ago · also iClarified, Wired

    2 more headlines
  4. first by MacRumors, 1d ago · also The Times of India, NDTV

    3 more headlines
  5. first by T3, 16h ago · also iThinkDifferent, AppleInsider

    2 more headlines
  6. first by Mastodon, 7d ago · also 9to5Mac, MacRumors

    2 more headlines
  7. first by The National, 5d ago · also CNET, The National UAE

    1 more headline
  8. first by Times of India, 16h ago · also The Times of India

  9. first by Engadget, 16h ago · also iClarified

    1 more headline
  10. first by GSMArena.com, 2d ago · also What Hi-Fi?

    2 more headlines

and 20 smaller pieces

What people are saying 12 voices from 3 sites · best of 162 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • Why does HomeView not support third-party apps given its iPad-like hardware?
  • Is the $299 (HomeView) / comparable Apple TV price actually justified by the added Siri AI and hardware versus older or cheaper alternatives?