Apple launches HomeView, its first smart-home display, at $299 — recognizes up to 6 household faces with a new Siri AI

Key point — Apple launched HomeView, its first smart-home display, at $299, with a 7-inch screen, the A18 chip, recognition of up to 6 faces, and a new Siri AI, pre-ordering in 8 markets, not yet including Thailand.

Why it matters — Apple is entering a market Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub already dominate, leading with privacy: camera and mic data is isolated in Secure Exclaves, and personal content only shows once a face is recognized. The $299 price undercuts the $350 the market expected, while the wall mount and the Apple Home Collection (made with LG and Schneider Electric) represent follow-on revenue.

Worth watching — When it expands to Southeast Asia, and Thai-language Siri AI support, since buyers in Thailand currently have to import it themselves and handle warranty and import duties on their own.