A smart speaker with a screen
After a week using Apple’s HomeView at home, Indian Express reviewer Nandagopal Rajan found a device that combines a speaker with a compact display, but did not become a regular part of his routine. The review describes HomeView as most useful as a smart speaker with a screen, rather than as a small television.
The device has a cylindrical speaker base and a tiltable, seven-inch Liquid Retina display. Setup involves bringing an iPhone close and following the on-screen instructions. The reviewer says users should configure face and voice recognition, which HomeView uses to personalize some features and control access to personal information.
Useful for music, photos and kitchen tasks
Rajan found the audio impressive for the device’s size, with spatial sound and a softer bass profile than he recalled from the HomePod mini. He most often used voice commands to check the weather and play music. The screen can also display photos, calendars and clock faces, and the reviewer’s favourite use was turning it into a changing digital photo frame. He cautioned that photo selections should be curated so private documents do not appear alongside personal pictures.
HomeView can play video handed off from an iPhone or accessed through Apple TV. The review notes that YouTube is not available as a dedicated app, though it can be opened in Safari. Given the display’s shape, Rajan preferred using the device for audio rather than extended video viewing.
A recipe feature stood out: HomeView can turn a recipe opened in Safari into step-by-step instructions, including timers. That made the kitchen island seem a more practical location than a window ledge. The reviewer found the device worked best when placed where household members would regularly be nearby, since several functions depend on seeing or hearing the user.
Personalization and Siri remain uneven
The review describes recognition as a useful privacy safeguard. In one instance, HomeView declined to read messages when it could not identify Rajan in a dark room. The system is intended to distinguish household members, so personal information can be tied to the recognized person rather than exposed to everyone using the shared screen.
However, Rajan also encountered delays and missed or misunderstood voice requests. He found Siri less consistently responsive than on his iPhone. The review says the assistant can be helpful when it recognizes and understands a user, but that reliability needs to improve for HomeView to serve as a dependable voice assistant.
Other household features include Intercom announcements to Apple devices and FaceTime calls. Rajan said FaceTime’s limited popularity in India could restrict the usefulness of calling there. He also found the smart-home functions less relevant in a household that had not adopted connected-home devices.
Best suited to Apple households
HomeView is priced at Rs 39,900, according to the review. Rajan describes it as an appealing addition for families already using Apple products, particularly those seeking a shared screen for communication, music and smart-home controls. But despite its design, sound and useful features, he had to remind himself to use it and said it did not fundamentally change his daily routine.
His assessment is that HomeView has capable hardware and a range of practical uses, but its long-term appeal depends on becoming a habitual part of household life—and on improvements to Siri’s responsiveness.
