Apple this week finally announced the HomePod mini 2, a new Apple TV 4K, and its "HomeView" smart home hub. On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through our reactions to the announcements.
Apple's HomeView costs $299 and combines a 7-inch square display with Siri AI, FaceTime, music playback, and smart home controls. It has had something of a mixed reception from YouTubers and the wider Apple community, with some of the criticism centering on what it adds for someone who already owns an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or HomePod.
A screen for timers, photos, music, and home controls will be useful for many, but it is harder to explain why someone wearing an Apple Watch would reach across a kitchen counter to set a timer, or why they would type a message on HomeView instead of taking out their iPhone. Apple's promotional video puts some of those less convincing uses front and center.
There are many details to like about the design. The display can show photos and customizable faces, dim to just 0.3 nits in the dark, and adjust its interface as someone approaches. In the kitchen, guided recipes turn webpages into step-by-step instructions, with voice-controlled timers available while cooking.
HomeView makes more sense as a replacement for an Echo Show or Nest Hub, particularly for anyone tired of poor ecosystem integration and ads on their smart display. For people who have never wanted one, it may be less obvious what Apple has added to change their minds.
HomeView recognizes up to six people and switches to their apps and personal information. Its privacy protections mean personal content normally appears only when the user is recognized and their paired device is nearby and recently unlocked. Siri AI can answer general questions without an Apple Intelligence-compatible device, but personal requests still require one.
There is no App Store, either. Compatible third-party audio and video apps appear through a connected iPhone or iPad, using a CarPlay-like system. For services such as Spotify and Audible, that means relying on another device rather than installing an app directly on HomeView.
The wall-mounted version costs the same $299 despite losing the tabletop model's speaker base, woofer, and passive radiators. Mounts start at $59.95, and the box includes no power adapter or cable. It could be a welcome replacement for an iPad mounted on a wall, but putting several around a home quickly becomes expensive.
Six years after the original HomePod mini, the HomePod mini 2 adds an S10 chip, Sound Glow lighting, and support for Siri AI while retaining the same basic speaker hardware. Its $149 price is roughly 50% higher than the original's $99 launch price, following a June increase to $129.
The new model can serve as a default Mac speaker on models with Wi-Fi 6E or later. Siri AI is likely to make a bigger difference to everyday use, but it will arrive later, after the speaker launches on October 30.
The new Apple TV 4K also asks buyers to pay more for a familiar product. At $299, it adds the A19 chip, built-in microphones, and an updated Siri Remote. Siri AI is also coming to older models, while the new remote can be bought separately for $59.
The starting price is now more than twice the $129 entry point available before June's increases. The new model includes 128GB of storage, Ethernet, and Thread, and the equivalent outgoing model had already reached $249. Even so, $299 is a substantial outlay for a streaming box when many existing owners have little reason to replace theirs.
Support for four HomePods is one reason to upgrade. The new Apple TV can use matching front and rear pairs of HomePod mini 2 or second-generation full-sized HomePods for surround sound. Buying the box, two full-sized HomePods, and two HomePod mini 2 speakers at Apple's U.S. prices totals $1,295. These are products people can keep for years, but that also makes keeping an existing setup an attractive option.
The Apple Home Collection, developed with LG and Schneider Electric, adds another set of expensive purchases. One-tap setup and a lock that uses Ultra Wideband to unlock as someone approaches are useful features. Whether they justify paying more than for other HomeKit accessories is another matter, especially when buying equipment for an entire home.
Apple is reportedly still working on a robotic home display and its own camera, separate from the LG and Schneider products. The camera is said to detect activity and presence without recording video.
We also look ahead to the rumored OLED MacBook, where a lighter design and a new display could matter more than the touchscreen. It is expected to be announced later this month. We also briefly return to the iPhone Duo, including whether its folding display and software changes make a more convincing case for trying a new kind of Apple device.
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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our predictions about the HomeView, HomePod mini 2, and new Apple TV 4K prior to their official announcement.
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