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Apple’s HomeView is available for preorder at $299, with shipments due to begin Nov. 13 in listed markets. The Ambient’s comparison is based on announced specifications, not a HomeView review: Apple pitches it at households using its devices, while Google’s older Nest Hub costs less and works with Android and iPhone. HomeView’s real-world performance, including its beta Siri AI, remains to be tested.
Apple’s $299 HomeView smart display is available for preorder, with shipments scheduled from Nov. 13 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. A comparison by The Ambient sets its announced features against Google’s $99.99 Nest Hub (second generation), but the publication says it has not reviewed HomeView, so its assessment is based on specifications and information released so far.
HomeView costs $299 or £299 in either tabletop or wall-mounted form. The wall-mounted device requires a separate Schneider Home mount: the USB-C version costs $59.95 and the AC-wired version $79.95. A Power over Ethernet mount priced at $129.95 is expected in early 2027. That makes the wall setup cost more than the display alone. Apple is not selling HomeView in the EU, with the source attributing the exclusion to Siri AI not yet being available there.
Both displays have seven-inch screens, but their designs and features differ. HomeView has a square Liquid Retina display, camera and tilting metal hinge; Apple says it can identify up to six household members and show them individual Home Screens and personal content, part of its broader smart home strategy. Its camera supports FaceTime with Center Stage. Apple says camera and microphone data are processed in isolated Secure Exclaves on the A18 chip. The Nest Hub has no camera and uses Soli radar for features including Sleep Sensing and gestures to pause music or snooze alarms.
The Ambient describes HomeView’s tabletop audio system as more capable, with two full-range drivers, a down-firing woofer and two passive radiators; the wall-mounted version has two drivers. The Nest Hub has one 43.5mm full-range speaker. HomeView’s assistant, Siri AI, launches in beta, and some functions that use personal information require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. HomeView also requires an Apple device for setup, joining other Apple HomeKit smart home devices. Nest Hub works with Android phones and iPhones through the Google Home app and now runs Google’s Gemini for Home assistant, according to the report.
Choosing Between Apple and Google Homes
The choice is less about screen size than about a household’s existing devices, smart-home setup and budget. For an Apple-centered home, HomeView combines Home, FaceTime, calendars, messages and speaker playback in one display, and supports Matter devices and Apple Home accessories. The published specifications suggest it could suit people who want a shared control screen with personal profiles, though those capabilities have not yet been independently tested by The Ambient.
For buyers who want a lower-cost display or use a mix of phones, the Nest Hub costs substantially less and is compatible with both major mobile platforms. It also offers a camera-free option for a bedroom. The price difference is larger for a wall installation, where the required mount adds to HomeView’s cost. Buyers should weigh those concrete trade-offs against the fact that the Nest Hub is an older model and HomeView’s headline assistant is still in beta.
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Two Different Smart Home Ecosystems
Google’s second-generation Nest Hub launched five years ago and remains on sale and supported, according to The Ambient. Google has not announced a replacement. A reference to a “Google Home Display” appeared in the Google Home app in May, but that alone does not confirm a new product or its release date.
Both displays can control Matter smart-home devices over Wi-Fi and Thread. HomeView also works with Apple Home accessories and is designed to connect with Apple’s Home Collection of cameras, thermostats and a lock developed with LG and Schneider; the report says that collection is due from December. HomeView can display up to nine camera feeds, while an iCloud+ subscription adds encrypted recognition features. Nest Hub is a natural display for Nest cameras and doorbells, and some features, including unusual-sound alerts, require a Google Home Premium subscription.
The comparison’s evidence is uneven: HomeView’s details come from announced specifications, while The Ambient reports having used Google’s assistant and describes its own experience. The publication says Siri AI has shown promise in early tests and that Gemini for Home has not performed well in its tests. Those are the outlet’s evaluations, not a direct, controlled test of the two displays; it also calls Alexa+ the current benchmark for AI assistants.
““we haven’t reviewed the HomeView yet””
— The Ambient
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HomeView Performance Still Untested
The largest gap is how HomeView performs in everyday use. The source has not reviewed the product, so its sound quality, camera features, interface and household recognition have not been tested in a published hands-on comparison. Siri AI’s beta status also leaves its reliability and capabilities open to change. Apple has not been reported as providing a date for when Siri AI will leave beta.
Google has not confirmed whether it will release a Nest Hub successor, or when one might arrive. The source also does not provide a firm launch date for the planned PoE mount beyond early 2027. Availability details are limited to the markets named in the report; HomeView is not listed for sale in the EU at this time.
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Shipments and Independent Reviews
Apple’s stated next milestone is HomeView shipments from Nov. 13 in the listed countries. Independent reviews after the device reaches customers should help establish whether its advertised speaker, profile and Siri AI features work as described, and whether the $299 price is justified for Apple households. Buyers considering the wall-mounted version will also need to select and budget for a compatible Schneider Home mount.
For Google, there is no confirmed product announcement or release schedule to track. Until the company provides one, the Nest Hub remains the available Google display in this comparison. The timing of Apple’s Home Collection rollout and the PoE mount’s planned early-2027 availability may also affect buyers weighing a new smart-home installation.
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Key Questions
How much does Apple HomeView cost?
HomeView costs $299 or £299 for either the tabletop or wall-mounted model. The wall model requires a separate mount; the listed USB-C and AC-wired options add $59.95 and $79.95, respectively.
When does HomeView ship, and where will it be sold?
Preorders are open, with shipments scheduled from Nov. 13 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. The source says it is not being sold in the EU because Siri AI is not yet available there.
Does the Nest Hub have a camera?
No. The second-generation Google Nest Hub has no camera. It uses Soli radar for features such as Sleep Sensing and gesture controls.
Which display works with iPhone and Android?
The Nest Hub works with both Android phones and iPhones through the Google Home app. HomeView requires an Apple device for setup, and some Siri AI features also depend on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad.
Has Google announced a new Nest Hub?
No. The Ambient reports that a “Google Home Display” reference appeared in the Google Home app in May, but Google has not announced a successor or given a release date.
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