Apple to Release HomeView Hub With 7-Inch Screen for $299 in November

Apple has announced HomeView, a smart home hub with a square 7-inch display and a stand with a built-in audio system. Sales begin on November 13, 2026, and the price will be $299, or about 25,000 rubles at the current conversion rate. Exactly one month separates the announcement from the launch. That is a short window, and it suggests the device is already ready for production and shipping.

What we know about the device

The published information establishes three things: the form factor, the price and the date. The display is square, which is unusual for home displays. Most competitors opt for a rectangular, tablet-style format. The display sits on a stand with a built-in audio system, so HomeView works both as a speaker and as a home control panel.

Here is what is confirmed so far:

• Display size: 7 inches, square format
• Design: screen on a stand with a built-in audio system
• Purpose: smart home control hub
• Sales start date: November 13, 2026
• Price: $299, about 25,000 rubles

A square suits widgets: a camera feed, a thermostat, a to-do list and a player can appear as tiles without black bars. How well Apple uses this geometry will become clear after the first reviews.

Where HomeView fits in the market

Amazon has long held the smart home display space with its Echo Show line, as has Google with Nest Hub. Until now, Apple offered only HomePod speakers, which have no screen. Controlling the home meant using an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. HomeView fills that gap with a standalone device that sits in a room and is always within reach.

The $299 price looks bold. The second-generation HomePod cost the same at launch, while competitors' screen-equipped hubs are usually noticeably cheaper. Apple is betting that buyers will pay for sound quality, materials and ecosystem integration. That logic has worked for the company before, but in the home hub segment it still has to be proven by sales.

What is still missing

The announcement leaves out details that will determine the device's real value:

• which chip is inside and how many AI features run locally on it;
• whether there is a camera for video calls and gesture recognition;
• exactly how HomeView works with Siri and which tasks the assistant handles on its own;
• whether it supports the Matter standard and third-party devices;
• which countries will get it at launch.

For a smart home hub, the last two points are critical. If compatibility is limited to products with Apple's certification mark, the audience will shrink. If support is broader, HomeView could become a central hub for a mixed set of devices.

What about the Russian market?

The ruble price is a reference conversion only. Apple does not officially sell in Russia, so if the device does appear there, it will come through parallel imports and at a markup over $299. Do not rely on the 25,000 figure when planning a purchase.

What buyers should do

If you already live in the Apple ecosystem and have HomeKit devices at home, it makes sense to wait for independent reviews after November 13. The key questions for testing are the assistant's response speed, sound quality compared with HomePod, and compatibility with your sensors and lamps. If you have built your home around Google or Amazon, there is no reason to switch for the new hub until it is clear how it works with other brands' devices. If you are choosing your first smart display, compare HomeView with cheaper alternatives and decide honestly whether the $150–200 difference is worth it for the sound and the ecosystem.