On October 13, 2026, Apple announced the release of two exciting smart home devices: HomeView and HomePod Mini 2. Both gadgets incorporate Siri AI, a next-generation virtual assistant designed to understand natural conversations more effectively.
Introducing the Apple HomeView
The Apple HomeView serves as a smart home control hub, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen, facial recognition technology, and the ability to make FaceTime calls. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, stated, "HomeView is designed for everyone in the household while offering a fully personalized experience for each user."
Equipped with a Liquid Retina display and True Tone technology, the screen adjusts brightness from 500 nits to 0.3 nits for comfortable nighttime use. HomeView comes in two variants: a tabletop version with a dome-shaped speaker stand and a wall-mounted option.
Smart Features of HomeView
One of the standout features of HomeView is its ability to recognize up to six users through facial recognition. Depending on who is in front of it, the device can display a personalized home screen, widgets, and tailored content. Users can access Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders, and Find My, all while ensuring that personal information remains secure through stringent safety protocols.
HomeView also boasts a camera for FaceTime calls, featuring Center Stage technology that keeps users centered in the frame even as they move. For entertainment, it supports Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and a variety of third-party applications. Its audio system combines two full-range drivers, a woofer, and a passive radiator to deliver rich Spatial Audio.
Siri AI Enhancements
Siri AI is a core aspect of HomeView, powered by Apple Intelligence, allowing the assistant to comprehend follow-up questions and provide information across various topics. When paired with compatible iPhones or iPads, Siri can utilize relevant data from Messages, Calendar, and other applications. For instance, users can ask Siri to find songs suggested by friends via text or help manage their daily schedule.
As a smart home hub, HomeView allows users to control lights, thermostats, curtains, and door locks via voice commands or the touchscreen interface. It can also display up to nine security camera feeds simultaneously. With compatible cameras and an appropriate iCloud+ subscription, HomeView can identify people, pets, vehicles, and delivered packages.
Launch of HomePod Mini 2
Alongside HomeView, Apple introduced the HomePod Mini 2, now powered by the Apple S10 chip. This smart speaker maintains its compact design but enhances audio output with 360-degree sound. Apple has integrated computational audio technology to optimize dynamic range, volume, and sound quality in real-time.
One exciting new feature is Sound Glow, where the top of the HomePod Mini 2 lights up and pulses in sync with the music, even changing colors based on the album cover currently playing. The device can also be configured with up to four speakers alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV, automatically adjusting for optimal audio performance based on speaker placement.
Availability and Pricing
For daily use, the HomePod Mini 2 can recognize up to six users by voice. Siri AI will enable users to access personal information from compatible devices, search for music, set reminders, and control smart home devices. However, the Siri AI feature on the HomePod Mini 2 will not be available immediately upon launch; it will be rolled out through a free software update later.
Pre-orders for both devices began on October 13, 2026, in select countries. The HomeView is offered in silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray, while the wall-mounted version is available only in silver and space gray. The HomePod Mini 2 comes in five colors: pink, green, blue, white, and midnight.
The HomeView is set to launch in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, the UK, Singapore, and South Africa, while the HomePod Mini 2 will be available in the US and over 23 other regions. Siri AI on both devices supports English in select markets, with the HomeView featuring Siri AI in beta form through software version 27.2.
Source: https://inet.detik.com/consumer/d-8705619/apple-rilis-homeview-dan-homepod-mini-2-siri-ai-jadi-andalan
