TL;DR
Get home appliances delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A CNET reporter who tested Apple’s HomeView at a New York event said its device setup, Face ID profiles and kitchen-focused display made the smart home screen appear easier to use. The hands-on report reflects a limited demonstration, not independent testing at home; price, release timing and several technical details were not established in the source.
A CNET reporter who tested Apple’s HomeView during a New York demonstration said the smart home screen appeared to simplify device setup and personalize access through Apple Home and Face ID. The account is based on a limited, roughly hour-long event, so it offers an early impression rather than confirmation of how the product performs in everyday homes.
The report’s strongest impression was the proposed setup process. The reporter watched an Apple representative find and pair a smart home device through the Apple Home app, with the device appearing on both the representative’s phone and HomeView. The reporter compared the flow to pairing AirPods or a HomePod, but said there was not enough time to inspect the full process.
Apple representatives also demonstrated Face ID-based profiles. The device reportedly recognized its owner and loaded relevant information, including a calendar and scheduled events. The HomeView can recognize up to six people, according to the report. In a simulated home, an exterior screen showed a security camera view while guest access was limited; guests could still use selected functions such as temperature controls or Safari.
The hardware shown had a 7-inch square Liquid Retina display on an adjustable, tilting base. The reporter considered its footprint useful for a kitchen counter, where the screen could display recipes and timers. The report says recipes can be shared from an iPhone by tapping it or opened through Siri or Safari, with step-by-step instructions displayed on screen.
A Simpler Route Into Smart Homes
Smart home products often require separate apps, accounts and setup steps, even when they are meant to work together. The reporter described managing more than 10 device apps at home and said the HomeView demonstration suggested Apple could reduce that friction by routing supported accessories through one interface. If the experience works as shown across a broad range of products, it could make connected devices easier to set up and manage.
Personalized access also matters in shared homes. Face recognition could help show each household member relevant information while limiting what guests can control. That promise depends on reliable recognition and carefully configured permissions, neither of which can be assessed from a brief demonstration alone.
The report is positive but not a product review: it does not establish long-term reliability, compatibility in real homes, or whether the device offers enough value to justify its eventual price. Those details will shape whether HomeView is a practical hub or simply a more polished screen.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Limits of the Demonstration
The reporter compared HomeView with a home setup built from devices by several manufacturers, including Philips Hue, Govee, Dreo, TP-Link and Eufy, managed through an Amazon Echo Show and Alexa. The reporter characterized that arrangement as functional but difficult to manage, with multiple apps and occasional troubleshooting. This is the reporter’s personal experience, not a measured comparison of smart home platforms.
At the event, Apple showed HomeView alongside products described as part of a new Apple Home collection from LG and Schneider Electric. The report says it should work with Matter and Apple Home accessories. It also anticipates that many Amazon- and Google-branded devices may work, but explicitly notes that Apple did not provide an exhaustive compatibility list. That expectation should not be treated as confirmed support for every product.
The demonstration included bedroom, exterior and kitchen scenarios. The reporter said Apple’s example limited guest access outdoors and showed how the display could be used on a nightstand or counter. These were staged uses presented at the event; the report does not describe testing the device in the reporter’s own home.
““The result is….functional, which is the highest praise I can offer it.””
— CNET reporter
smart home device setup with Apple Home app
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Pricing, Launch and Compatibility Remain Open
The source does not provide a price, release date or full specification list for HomeView. It also does not establish which third-party accessories will be supported at launch or whether devices from Amazon and Google will work; the reporter’s expectation about those products was not confirmed by Apple in the account.
Other details remain open, including how Face ID profiles handle children, parental controls and guest permissions. The reporter said Apple did not explain those functions, and the account offers no long-term testing of privacy, recognition accuracy, connectivity or software reliability. The ease of pairing shown at the event may not capture every setup situation users encounter at home.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Awaiting Product Details and Home Testing
The next useful evidence will be Apple’s confirmed pricing, availability and compatibility information, followed by independent testing with a wider range of devices and household members. Those details would clarify whether the single-app setup extends beyond the accessories shown at the event.
Until then, the CNET report supports a narrower conclusion: HomeView made a favorable impression in a staged demonstration, especially for device pairing, individualized screens and kitchen use. Buyers cannot yet judge its cost, full capabilities or performance over time from the information provided.
7-inch Liquid Retina smart home screen
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What is Apple HomeView?
In the CNET report, HomeView is a smart home screen with a 7-inch square display, shown alongside Apple Home controls, personalized profiles, recipes and timers.
How did HomeView setup work in the demonstration?
A CNET reporter watched an Apple representative find and pair a device through the Apple Home app, with the accessory appearing on the phone and HomeView. The reporter did not have time to examine the complete setup process.
Which devices will HomeView support?
The report says Apple presented compatibility with Matter and Apple Home accessories and showed products from LG and Schneider Electric. It does not provide a complete list; support for all Amazon- or Google-branded devices was the reporter’s expectation, not a confirmed Apple statement.
When will HomeView go on sale, and how much will it cost?
The source does not state a launch date or price. Those details remain unconfirmed in the available report.
Did the reporter test HomeView at home?
No. The report describes about an hour at Apple’s New York event, including demonstrations in simulated home settings. It is an early hands-on impression, not a long-term home review.
Source: rss
Cold & flu season Picks
humidifiers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
