Apple’s $299 Homeview Impresses as a Smart Home Hub, Despite Siri Delays
WHO:
The Verge - Jennifer Pattison Tuohy said her tech-averse husband liked HomeView, while her teenage daughter was less enthusiastic.
The Verge - Nabu Casa is the commercial side of the Open Home Foundation, which runs Home Assistant; Nabu Casa and Apollo fund the foundation.
The Verge - Nathan Edwards tested Home Assistant Connect Aux-2.
The Verge - Jennifer Pattison Tuohy reviewed Apple’s HomeView.
Mashable - Apple’s HomeView is designed to provide personalized experiences for the entire family.
Engadget - Apple introduced its first smart display.
WHAT:
The Verge - Tuohy tested both tabletop and wall-mounted HomeView versions and used one as a smart-home control panel in her entryway.
The Verge - Tuohy tested HomeView while cooking, controlling her smart home, and taking calls.
The Verge - Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 supports a Grove port for peripherals such as sensors, buttons, and LEDs.
The Verge - Aux-2’s serial integration was developed earlier this year; Music Assistant and SendSpin, which power its audio-output feature, are in active development.
The Verge - Music Assistant can play music from Spotify, YouTube Music, and local files to outputs including Sonos, Wiim, AirPlay, and Google Cast.
The Verge - The reviewer said SendSpin, the Open Home Foundation’s whole-home audio standard, had not yet enabled grouping speakers from different protocols in their setup.
The Verge - The reviewer said the Apollo Automations Cast-1 costs $35 and supports music casting and Bluetooth proxy features.
The Verge - The reviewer bought three ESP32 boards for $16.
The Verge - Nabu Casa launched the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a $69 multi-function device about the size of a deck of cards.
The Verge - Aux-2 includes 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB-A, USB-C, a digital/analog audio jack, a Grove port, and two RS-232 serial ports; its Ethernet supports power over Ethernet.
The Verge - Aux-2 can bridge Bluetooth devices to Home Assistant, connect Z-Wave or Zigbee antennas, control equipment over serial, and stream music to older audio equipment.
The Verge - Aux-2 is based on ESPHome and uses existing Home Assistant and ESPHome integrations.
The Verge - Edwards connected Govee Bluetooth hygrometers through Aux-2 and restored his refrigerator-monitoring setup; he also used Music Assistant to play music through in-wall speakers.
Mashable - Apple HomeView costs $299.
The Verge - The review describes HomeView as effective at controlling smart-home devices, with customizable faces and sound that is good for its size.
The Verge - The review says Siri can be slow and the wall mount is pricey.
Engadget - HomeView is a versatile smart display and Siri-powered home hub that offers convenience for a variety of household tasks.
Mashable - HomeView has no App Store.
Mashable - HomeView uses facial recognition and Siri AI to provide customized experiences.
TechRadar - A review after eight days with HomeView praises its design, sound, personalized experiences, and Siri AI.
WHERE:
The Verge - Tuohy tested HomeView on her kitchen counter, bedside table, in her office, and on her coffee table, as well as mounted in her entryway.
Engadget - HomeView is intended for use in the home.
WHEN:
TechRadar - The reviewer spent eight days with HomeView.
HOW:
The Verge - The reviewer reported that Govee Bluetooth hygrometers maintained their connection through three walls and a refrigerator after setup with Aux-2.
The Verge - Edwards installed Aux-2 firmware and entered Wi-Fi credentials through a browser, then completed setup in Home Assistant.
Mashable - HomeView uses facial recognition and Siri AI for family personalization.
The Verge - HomeView provides smart-home controls and Siri AI features.
(UPDATED November 12, 2026 19:02 UTC)
Apple introduced HomeView, a $299 smart display offering personalized family experiences and smart-home controls. Reviews praised its design and sound, but noted Siri can be slow and lacks an App Store. Nabu Casa’s $69 Home Assistant Aux-2 connects smart-home devices and streams music to older speakers.
--
(UPDATED November 12, 2026 17:00 UTC)
Nabu Casa launched Aux-2, a device connecting Home Assistant with household gadgets and audio equipment. It supports Bluetooth, smart-home peripherals, and music streaming. Apple introduced HomeView, a smart display offering personalized family experiences and home controls.
--
(UPDATED November 12, 2026 16:07 UTC)
Apple introduced HomeView, a smart display offering personalized experiences for the whole family. Reviews praised its design, sound, and smart-home controls, though Siri can be slow. Nabu Casa launched Aux-2, connecting devices and older audio equipment to Home Assistant.
--
(UPDATED November 12, 2026 15:00 UTC)
Apple introduced HomeView, its first smart display and Siri-powered hub, for household tasks. It costs $299 and uses facial recognition and Siri AI to personalize family experiences. Reviews praise its design, sound, and smart-home controls, but note slow Siri and no App Store.