Apple HomeView review: An adorable smart display that earns its place

Apple's HomeView is its first foray into the world of smart home displays. However, while there is significant potential, the device currently lacks the refinement to be recommended for everyone. The product was unveiled in a New York City loft, where hands-on demonstrations were the main attraction. The announcement lacked the fanfare typically associated with such launches.

HomeView is a versatile device that serves as a smart home hub, smart speaker, and photo frame. It is essentially a single device that encompasses these functionalities. After testing it for over a week, the reviewer finds themselves conflicted about the product, as it has significant shortcomings but also offers compelling features.

There are two versions of HomeView: a standard countertop model and a wall-mounted version. Despite sharing the same price, the wall-mounted version lacks a base and a larger external speaker. The countertop model comes in various colors such as silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray, while the wall-mounted model is exclusively available in silver and Space Gray.

The reviewer finds the design of HomeView appealing and believes it fits seamlessly into any home setting. Their partner also appreciates its aesthetic and functional qualities. One of the standout features of HomeView is its ultra-low brightness, which allows it to be used as a bedside companion without disturbing sleep. Its screen measures approximately six by six inches, or seven inches diagonally, and features a fingerprint-resistant coating to maintain its appearance.

The display has a brightness of 500 nits, which is sufficient for indoor use, and can go as low as 0.3 nits, making it ideal for use during sleep.

The device's 12MP Center Stage camera offers a wide field of view and can track the user's face throughout the kitchen. It also zooms in to track facial movements. Both models come equipped with four beam-forming microphones and speakers on the underside, producing sound comparable to a HomePod mini 2. A silicone pad at the bottom of the countertop version prevents it from sliding around, while a USB-C port is located on the back of the device.

HomeView is powered by Apple's A18 processor, paired with 8GB of memory. The device operates on its own navigation flow, which is a combination of elements from the Apple Watch, Apple TV 4K, and iPhone. While it takes some time to adapt to, the reviewer finds the learning curve to be natural and easy to navigate. The device allows users to swipe left and right between different faces, open Control Center by swiping from the top-right, and invoke Siri AI by pulling down from the middle.

The app view displays available applications, widgets, and the home view, which can also contain widgets. The layout and customization of these views are not entirely intuitive, as the app view and home view can both have widgets, while Control Center remains fixed with preset controls. HomeView comes with a dozen pre-installed faces, each offering unique customization options and features tailored to specific use cases.