Apple held its "Welcome home" event on October 13, 2026. It announced three home products: the HomeView smart display, a new HomePod mini 2 and a new Apple TV 4K. The HomePod mini 2 goes on sale October 30. HomeView and the Apple TV 4K follow on November 13.
Two of the three cost more than the models they replace. Here is what you need to know before you preorder.
Key dates and prices
| Product | US price | Preorder | On sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomePod mini 2 | $149 | Oct 13 | Oct 30 |
| HomeView (tabletop) | $299 | Oct 13 | Nov 13 |
| HomeView (wall mounted) | $299, plus a mount from $59.95 | Oct 13 | Nov 13 |
| Apple TV 4K (4th gen) | $299 (128GB) | Oct 13 | Nov 13 |
| Apple Home Collection (LG, Schneider) | $39.95 to $399.95 | Not listed | December |
The old HomePod mini cost $129. One report says the previous Apple TV 4K started at $199. Reports differ on how Apple TV 4K is priced in instalments, so check Apple's page at checkout.
What is new
| HomePod mini 2 | HomeView | Apple TV 4K (4th gen) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | S10 | A18 | A19 |
| Screen | None | 7-inch square, 1,088 x 1,088 | None |
| Camera | None | 12MP Center Stage | None |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Thread, Ultra Wideband | Wired power, 30W adapter in the box (tabletop) | Wi-Fi 7, Gigabit Ethernet, Thread |
| Siri AI | Later update | Yes (beta) | Yes (beta), text answers |
| Colors | Pink, green, blue, white, midnight | Silver, starlight, rose pink, space gray | Not listed |
HomeView
HomeView is Apple's first smart display. It comes as a tabletop unit on a tilting hinge, or as a wall-mounted unit at the same $299. The wall version has no cable or adapter. Mounts are sold separately: a USB-C plug-in mount at $59.95, a hardwired AC mount at $79.95, and a Power over Ethernet mount at $129.95 that arrives in early 2027.
It can recognize up to six people by face and show each person their own home screen. Personal data comes from a nearby iPhone. There is no App Store. It runs Apple's own apps, plus CarPlay-compatible audio and video apps. It is not sold in the EU because Siri AI is not available there.
HomePod mini 2
It looks like the old model but uses the S10 chip. It adds a "Sound Glow" light on top and temperature and humidity sensors. It can also act as a low-latency speaker for recent Macs with Wi-Fi 6E. Siri AI is not there on day one.
Apple TV 4K
The new box has the A19 chip, Wi-Fi 7, three far-field microphones for hands-free "Hey Siri", and a remote that can make a sound so you can find it. Apple says it is up to 50% faster on CPU and up to 2x faster on GPU than before. It comes in 128GB only.
Where each one wins
- HomePod mini 2 is the cheap way into Apple's home setup. It costs $149 and ships first.
- HomeView is the one for kitchens and hallways. A screen is better than a speaker for timers, recipes, cameras and door locks.
- Apple TV 4K wins if you care about Wi-Fi 7, Ethernet and fast menus. At $299, it is a lot for a streaming box.
The Apple Home Collection adds cameras, a doorbell, a deadbolt, thermostats and sensors made with LG and Schneider Electric. Video history needs iCloud+. The 50GB plan covers one camera and 200GB covers up to five.
Which should you buy?
- Buy the HomePod mini 2 if you want a small speaker, and you are fine waiting for Siri AI.
- Buy HomeView if you already use an iPhone and want a shared screen for the house. Preorder if you want it on day one.
- Buy the Apple TV 4K only if you want the new chip and Wi-Fi 7. If you just want to stream, the current model still does the job and may drop in price.
- Wait for reviews. Siri AI is in beta, and none of these products has been tested by outlets yet.
Check Apple TV 4K (current model) on Amazon
Want to line up other speakers or streaming boxes? Use our compare tool. You can also read our Apple October 13 preview to see what leaked before the event.
Other tech news this week
- Nvidia's first RTX Spark laptops ship on October 16. See our RTX Spark laptop guide.
- Bose and Technics both have new headphones in the news. See our Technics vs Sony vs Bose comparison.
- Apple's iPhone Duo preorders open on October 16, according to our earlier coverage.
Sources
- Popular Science: Apple HomeView, HomePod and Apple TV details
- The Mac Observer: HomeView, HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K prices and release dates
- Deccan Chronicle: Apple unveils HomeView Hub, Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini 2
- CNBC: Apple releases HomeView smart home hub (headline only, page could not be read)
Image: Apple HomeView in a kitchen, via Popular Science.
