Apple unveils HomeView as minimalist smart home hub with siri AI integration

Apple has introduced HomeView, its first smart home hub, emphasizing a minimalist design and integration with Siri AI. During an interview with The Verge, Kaiann Drance, vice president of home product marketing, stated that the device is not just a collection of features but offers a unique experience by combining simplicity with advanced AI. Lilian Rincon, vice president of AI product marketing, added that users can now interact with HomeView using natural language, eliminating the need for memorizing commands. HomeView is designed to be always available, fixed in one place, and continuously powered, allowing users to control home devices without unlocking it. It also serves as a central hub for Apple Home and supports multi-user switching. However, the device is not yet available, with shipping expected in November 2026. It has a small screen and cannot run apps directly, requiring an iPhone for content streaming via AirPlay. Apple is reportedly working on a larger-screen version.