Apple announced HomeView on Oct. 13, and Wired reports after a hands-on that it has no App Store. Apple built a curated set of apps instead, and existing CarPlay apps fill the gaps.
- Price: $299 (U.S.), both models.
- Availability: pre-orders open, available Nov. 13, per Apple.
- Requirement: select apps need a paired, compatible iPhone nearby, per Apple.
What runs on day one
- Apple's apps. Wired lists FaceTime, Messages and Safari. Apple names Music, Podcasts, News, Apple TV and Audiobooks on its HomeView page.
- A few third-party media apps. Wired names Spotify as one.
- Your CarPlay apps. Per Wired, developers can bring existing CarPlay apps, and one already on your iPhone can appear on HomeView after setup.
- Not there. Wired found no YouTube, Netflix or Disney+ apps; for now video goes through Safari.
- Its own software. HomeView does not run iOS or iPadOS, Wired says; it runs software called HomeView.
How apps get there
Apple's developer page says CarPlay audio and video apps work on HomeView without changes by the developer. It does not mention navigation or messaging apps for HomeView.
MacRumors describes a CarPlay-like system that shows third-party apps while HomeView is connected to a compatible iPhone or iPad. Apple's pages name no video service. Wired says YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ would appear if they adopt the CarPlay framework.
Conditions for third-party apps, per MacRumors, citing Apple:
- The camera must recognize you as a user.
- A paired iPhone or iPad must be nearby.
- That device must have been unlocked recently.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported earlier that HomeView would run Apple apps and have no App Store, though users might project third-party app widgets from a nearby iPhone. iPhone in Canada summarised Wired's hands-on.
What it means for a kitchen or bedside screen
- Kitchen. Safari works for recipes: Wired says HomeView turns a recipe page into step-by-step instructions with timers. Apple names the same feature on its page.
- Bedside. Wired says brightness can drop to 0.3 nits, and notes the camera that sits on the front of the display.
- Video. A cooking video or a late show on YouTube means Safari today, which iPhone in Canada calls not the best experience.
Against Echo Show 15, Nest Hub Max and an iPad
- Apple HomeView: $299, 7-inch display, Nov. 13.
- Echo Show 15: $349.99 on Amazon, 15.6-inch. Amazon's page lists Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube and Apple TV apps, with subscriptions where needed.
- Nest Hub Max: $229 at the Google Store, 10-inch, but listed out of stock. Google's page shows YouTube and Netflix.
- iPad (A16): from $449 at Apple, with the full App Store. We did not price a stand.
Amazon showed the Echo Show 15 in stock, sold by Amazon.com, with no deal badge. Prices read 00:06 ET Oct. 14 for Amazon and Google, and 00:05 ET for Apple's iPad.
Price gaps against HomeView, our arithmetic:
- Echo Show 15: $50.99 more
- iPad (A16): $150 more
- Nest Hub Max: $70 less, but out of stock
Why it matters
A HomeView buyer is paying for Apple's apps, Siri and a CarPlay-style link to the iPhone, not for a second tablet. The catch is that the missing video apps are the ones rivals already ship, and Apple cannot add them alone. The services must opt in through CarPlay, and none is confirmed.
Our call, untested
We have not used HomeView. For music, timers and home controls on a counter with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, it fits. For YouTube or Netflix today, buy the Echo Show 15 or use an iPad. Video buyers who can wait should watch for CarPlay video apps.
For the Apple Intelligence rules behind Siri on this display, see our HomeView AI story. The wall model's mount costs are in our extra-costs story. The pre-launch reports are in our HomeView report.
