TL;DR
CNET’s review of Apple’s new $299 HomeView found a polished display, strong audio and useful HomeKit and Matter controls after roughly two weeks of testing. The reviewer said it works best for households already invested in Apple’s ecosystem and may not solve the fragmentation of a mixed-platform smart home.
CNET’s review of Apple’s $299 HomeView found that the company’s first display designed specifically for its HomeKit smart-home ecosystem offers premium hardware, strong sound and useful household features, but does not necessarily make a mixed smart home easier to manage. After about two weeks of testing, reviewer Ajay Kumar said the device is most compelling for households already using Apple services and compatible accessories.
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The review describes a compact, tilting display with a 7-inch, 1,088-by-1,088-pixel Liquid Retina IPS screen, an Apple A18 chip and a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. Kumar found the screen bright and responsive, and said the audio from its two full-range drivers, woofer and passive radiators could fill a large living room. The wall-mounted version has a different speaker setup, with two drivers and no woofer or passive radiators, despite costing the same, according to the report.
HomeView can control compatible HomeKit and Matter devices and also act as a household hub for calendars, grocery lists, reminders, music and photos, as explored in this look at Apple’s smart-home plans. The reviewer used personal and work iCloud calendars and said his wife could set up a profile for shared calendar use. The device supports personalized profiles for up to six family members, using facial authentication, according to the review.
Kumar tested HomeView alongside an older 2023 Amazon Echo Show 8 and cautioned that the comparison was not fully like-for-like, a question also explored in this smart display comparison. The review cites CNET colleague Tyler Lacoma’s assessment that a newer, redesigned Echo Show 8 is a closer competitor. Kumar also said the HomeView’s screen felt small at times, and noted that Apple’s more closed ecosystem could limit app choices. CNET rated the device 8.0.
A Hub for Apple-First Homes
The review points to a practical choice for households buying a central screen: whether they value integration with Apple services more than broad compatibility across platforms. HomeView brings calendars, household lists and supported smart-home controls onto one device, but its strengths are tied to the Apple ecosystem. That may make it a better fit for an Apple-centered home than for one divided among iPhone, Android and different smart-home services.
At $299, the purchase also involves more than screen quality. Buyers may need to weigh the display’s audio and HomeKit support against its size, app restrictions and the fact that the wall-mounted model gives up some speaker hardware without a lower listed price. The review’s findings are one tester’s experience, not a guarantee that every household or device combination will behave the same way.
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Apple’s First HomeKit Display
The report frames HomeView not as the first smart display, but as Apple’s first device designed specifically for HomeKit. Smart displays from Amazon and Google already combine screens with voice assistants and other functions; CNET names Echo Show and Nest Hub models among its alternatives. HomeView’s distinction, in the review, is its connection to Apple’s household services and its support for personalized profiles.
The reviewer spent about two weeks testing it at a desk and in a living room, using it for calendars, music, lists, reminders and a collection of smart-home devices. He compared it with an aging 2023 Echo Show 8, while acknowledging that Amazon’s newer 8.7-inch model is a more relevant comparison. The supplied report does not include a full comparative test against that newer Echo or Google’s current devices.
““Apple’s debut display is impressive, but you should know a few things before making HomeView your smart home centerpiece.””
— Ajay Kumar, CNET reviewer
Compatibility and Comparisons Still Vary
The supplied review does not establish how HomeView performs with every mix of HomeKit, Matter and non-Apple services, or which specific apps may be unavailable because of Apple’s ecosystem restrictions. It also does not provide a complete side-by-side test against the newer Echo Show 8 or current Nest Hub alternatives. Those gaps make it difficult to draw broad conclusions about which display is best for all households.
The review’s account of calendar sharing and device control reflects the tester’s setup. The report does not specify whether every listed feature is available in every country, how facial authentication handles all household situations, or whether software updates will change compatibility and app support. Those details remain unconfirmed in the material provided.
Check Your Home’s Device Mix
For readers considering HomeView, the immediate next step is to check whether their smart-home accessories and preferred services work with HomeKit or Matter and whether their household relies on apps outside Apple’s ecosystem. The review advises that Android users and homes split across platforms may prefer an Echo Show or Nest Hub instead.
No follow-up test, price change or software update is specified in the supplied report. A fuller comparison with newer competing displays—and testing in households with different device mixes—would help clarify how much HomeView’s Apple integration offsets its price and ecosystem limits.
Key Questions
What is Apple HomeView?
It is Apple’s smart display designed for its HomeKit ecosystem. The reviewed device combines a screen, camera and speakers with access to household features such as calendars, lists, music and compatible smart-home controls.
How much does HomeView cost?
The CNET report lists the price at $299. It says the wall-mounted model costs the same as the version with the more powerful speaker setup.
What did the reviewer like about it?
Kumar praised its bright, responsive display, premium build, room-filling audio and integration with Apple calendars and compatible HomeKit and Matter devices.
Why might it not suit a mixed smart home?
The review says Apple’s more closed ecosystem may restrict some apps, and the device is most appealing to people already invested in Apple services. The report does not document compatibility with every mixed-platform setup.
Was HomeView compared with the latest Echo Show?
No. Kumar tested it against a 2023 Echo Show 8 and said that was not a fully fair comparison. The report describes a newer Echo Show 8 as a closer match but does not provide a full test against it.
Source: cnet.com
