Apple is expanding its smart home ambitions with three new products: HomeView, a display designed to act as a household hub; a new Apple TV 4K; and the next-generation HomePod mini.
All three feature Siri AI, Apple’s more conversational assistant powered by Apple Intelligence, with the aim of bringing entertainment, communication and home controls closer together.
The announcements mark a broader push by Apple to make its ecosystem more useful beyond the iPhone, with a dedicated screen for the home and new ways to control connected devices.
Apple also unveiled a smart home range with LG, which you can read here.
APPLE HOMEVIEW: A SCREEN FOR THE HOME
The new Apple HomeView combines a 7-inch Liquid Retina display with a speaker base, putting smart home controls, music, video calls and personal information in one place. It can sit on a desk or kitchen counter, or be mounted on a wall.
The display recognises up to six people and gives each household member a personalised home screen with their own apps and widgets. It can show information from Calendar, Messages, Reminders and Find My, while shared photo albums and music remain available to everyone in the household.
Siri AI is central to the experience, allowing users to ask questions, discover music and interact with information on screen. When paired with a compatible Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, the assistant can also draw on personal context to provide more relevant answers.
HomeView doubles as a smart home control panel. Users can adjust lights and thermostats, lock doors, close blinds and view camera feeds. Its Home Camera display can show up to nine video feeds simultaneously. Compatible security cameras can also provide video descriptions and alerts for activity around the home.
Beyond home automation, the device supports FaceTime, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV and compatible third-party apps. It can also display recipes with step-by-step instructions, control timers by voice and relay messages between rooms using Intercom.
Apple says privacy is built into the hardware and software. Its Secure Exclaves technology isolates camera and microphone processing, while personal information is shown only when the system recognises the relevant user and their paired device meets Apple’s security requirements.
HomeView and the wall-mounted version will be available in South Africa through Apple Authorised Resellers from 13 November 2026. Both models are listed at £299 in the UK, but South African pricing has not yet been confirmed.
APPLE TV 4K GETS SIRI AI
Apple’s new Apple TV 4K brings Siri AI to the television, with a full-screen interface for searching for films and series, exploring recommendations and asking questions about what is on screen.
Instead of relying only on conventional search terms, viewers can ask questions in natural language and follow up with related queries. Apple gives examples such as asking where a series was filmed or whether a programme is appropriate for a particular age group.
The new streaming box also has built-in far-field microphones for hands-free Siri control. The updated Siri Remote adds Find My support, including Precision Finding on compatible devices and the option to play a sound to help locate a misplaced remote.
Apple is also expanding its home cinema capabilities. The new Apple TV 4K supports a four-speaker surround sound setup using HomePod mini 2 speakers or second-generation HomePods, provided the front and rear pairs match. The system automatically calibrates audio timing and levels to the room.
As a home hub, Apple TV 4K can control compatible smart home accessories and scenes, while notifications from supported video doorbells can appear on the television. Apple Intelligence can also generate descriptions of camera activity and summarise notifications in the Home app.
Pre-orders are open, with availability scheduled for 13 November 2026. South African pricing has not been confirmed.
HOMEPOD MINI GETS AN UPGRADE
The new HomePod mini 2 retains the compact smart speaker format but adds support for Siri AI, improved audio features and five colour options: pink, green, blue, white and midnight.
Siri AI is due to arrive through a future software update, rather than being available immediately at launch. Apple says the updated assistant will support more natural conversations, broader knowledge and improved music discovery.
The speaker also introduces Sound Glow, which makes the top surface glow and pulse in time with music. The lighting can respond to different elements of a track, while selected soundscapes can trigger matching animations.
HomePod mini 2 supports stereo pairing and multiroom audio. When used with the new Apple TV 4K, it can also form part of Apple’s four-speaker surround sound setup for a more immersive television experience.
The speaker can continue to act as a smart home controller, letting users operate compatible accessories and run routines with voice commands. It can also serve as the default speaker for a Mac.
HomePod mini 2 is available to pre-order in the US and other selected markets, with sales starting on 30 October 2026. The US price is $149. South African pricing and local availability details have not been confirmed.
Recharged is an independent site that focuses on technology, electric vehicles, and the digital life by Nafisa Akabor. Drawing from her 19-year tech journalism career, expect news, reviews, how-tos, comparisons, and practical uses of tech that are easy to digest. Nafisa is a traveller at heart, having been to 46 countries and counting. Find her edutainment videos covering tech, EVs and travel on TikTok.
