Apple’s HomeView, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2: What’s new and what it costs
Apple’s new smart display and refreshed speakers expand its home lineup, but the HomeView needs an iPhone or iPad, and older HomePods miss Siri AI.
Apple’s October home and streaming refresh brings a new smart display, an updated Apple TV 4K, and a second-generation HomePod mini. The most meaningful change is the wider set of devices and speakers that can work together. The catch for buyers: the HomeView depends on an iPhone or iPad, the new Apple TV costs considerably more, and Siri AI won’t reach every HomePod.
HomeView adds a screen to Apple’s smart home
The HomeView is Apple’s first smart display, with a 7-inch screen for controlling connected devices, using Siri, playing music, and running a selection of Apple apps. Calendar, Safari, FaceTime, Weather, and Apple TV are among the supported apps. Buyers can choose a version with a rotating stand or one designed for wall mounting.
It costs $299 / £299 / AU$449 and comes in Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray. Preorders are open, with sales and shipping scheduled to start Friday, November 13. For a closer look, TechRadar has seen the HomeView in action.
There’s a setup requirement to factor in: an iPhone or iPad is needed to get started. Those devices also supply much of the personal context that can make a display useful, including messages, appointments, reminders, podcasts, and playlists. That makes HomeView a more natural fit for households already using Apple’s mobile devices.
Apple TV 4K costs more, with a remote that’s easier to find
The new Apple TV 4K is priced at $299 / £299 / AU$449. That’s up from $199 / £199 / AU$299 for the previous Wi-Fi model and $249 / £249 / AU$399 for its Wi-Fi and Ethernet version; Apple will stop selling those older models. In return, the new box adds a faster processor, Siri AI, three far-field microphones for voice control, and a Siri Remote that can make a sound when misplaced.
The new Apple TV 4K is available to preorder, with sales and shipping set for Friday, November 13. The remote is also sold separately, though its price hasn’t been shared. Its sound-finding feature works with older Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models too. Owners of the latest iPhones can use Precision Finding to locate it. More details on the Apple TV 4K’s upgrades and price are available.
Another change is support for up to four HomePods as the Apple TV’s audio system. That can mean four second-generation HomePods, four HomePod mini 2 speakers, or two of each. A single HomePod or stereo pair remains an option. The bigger setup could add up: an Apple TV 4K and four HomePod mini 2 units cost $895 / £895 / AU$1,365.
HomePod mini 2 gets a chip upgrade and new colors
The HomePod mini 2 arrives nearly six years after the first model, with a faster chipset and a price of $149 / £149 / AU$229. Preorders are open, and sales and shipping start Friday, October 30. New Green and Pink finishes join White, Midnight, and Blue; Yellow and Orange are dropped. The light on top can also change color to match the artwork for the music being played.
Siri AI is planned for the mini, but it will arrive in a future software update with no date confirmed. The second-generation HomePod, released in 2023, won’t get the update. Apple hasn’t explained why; the source article suggests its processor may lack the capacity for the added demands. Buyers choosing between the speakers should treat Siri AI support as a difference in the product line, not a feature already available on the mini. Read more about the HomePod mini 2.
More connected devices are on the way, with limited regional reach
Apple is also widening the range of connected home products through the Apple Home Collection, co-designed with LG and Schneider Electric. The planned lineup includes a doorbell, a smart lock, cameras, sensors, and thermostats. For HomeView owners, more compatible hardware could make the display useful beyond controlling a small set of devices. The planned doorbell, cameras, and smart lock are detailed here.
Shipping is scheduled for December, but availability varies by product: the LG Door Lock is expected in the US and Canada, while the doorbell and cameras are listed for the US and UK, at least initially. Apple’s home push now spans the display, streaming box, speakers, and compatible accessories. For buyers, the practical question is whether those pieces fit the devices they already own—and whether the higher prices and staggered Siri AI support are worth the added connections.
