ⓘ Apple
HomeView is one of the most interesting Apple products in years, because rather than simply rehashing old formulas for success, Apple is venturing into a new market with its smart home hub. The company is reportedly already working on a larger version of HomeView with a robotic arm.
Hannes Brecher (translated by Hannes Brecher), Published 🇩🇪
Apple HomeView ($299 on Amazon) will begin shipping in the US on November 13, with no launch in Europe currently planned. Even before the smart home hub reaches its first customers, Bloomberg reports that Apple is already working on a larger, more expensive model that is expected to hit the market in 2027 or 2028. This product, known internally by the codename J595, could be marketed as HomeView Max, HomeView Ultra or HomeView 360.
Apple is reportedly planning two major upgrades in particular. First, the touchscreen is expected to grow from 7 inches to 9 inches. And second, the screen is to be mounted on a motorized robotic arm that can rotate the display a full 360 degrees. Combined with advanced voice recognition, this should make it possible to automatically keep the screen facing whoever is speaking. In practice, this is expected to offer several significant advantages. For example, HomeView Max could be used more easily by multiple people, such as when discussing a recipe at the kitchen counter.
During FaceTime video calls, the screen and front-facing camera can be positioned to follow the user as they move around the room. Bloomberg emphasizes that HomeView Max is not a direct successor to HomeView, but rather a second product line intended to be marketed as a more premium alternative to HomeView. Its functionality is likely to largely match that of the current model, meaning HomeView Max will primarily provide access to Apple's Siri AI chatbot, but will also be able to control smart home devices, play music and make video calls.
Editor of the original article: Hannes Brecher - Senior Tech Writer - 22626 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.