Is It Worth Buying the New Apple HomeView, or Is an IPad Enough?
Apple’s new HomeView smart hub is something special. It looks like a cross between an iMac G4 and an Apple Watch, especially if you opt for the stand version—which you should probably do, as the wall mount requires a separate hardware purchase. If you have multiple Apple users in your home, it’s certainly a tempting product. But despite HomeView’s elegant appearance, I can’t help but wonder: is it really a better solution than an iPad on a stand?
After all, you can already control smart devices from the Home app on your iPad, not to mention FaceTime calls, music playback, weather updates, and more. And since it’s an iPad, it’s inherently more versatile than a device designed as a smart hub. Perhaps it’s better to buy one of Apple’s tablets with a stand and leave it at that? The short answer: maybe, but not necessarily. Upon reflection, it might not be worth the investment for everyone in this case.
Functionality overlap between HomeView and iPad
Even though HomeView is a new product, it shares many similarities with the regular iPad. Both devices support FaceTime, and both have a camera positioned along the top bezel—at least if you have one of Apple’s modern iPads. (For years, the company placed the camera along the short edge of the iPad, which meant it was always off-center during landscape video calls.) Both devices run the Home app, meaning they can control compatible smart devices. Both devices have access to Apple Music, as well as the Messages app. Both devices also use some of the same Apple and third-party apps, including Calendar, Weather, Podcasts, and Find My iPhone, but the full list of compatible apps is still unknown. However, Apple told The Verge that any app that works with CarPlay and supports audio and video streaming will appear on your HomeView if it’s installed on your iPhone or iPad.
Both devices also come with Safari. It’s obvious on the iPad, but it’s a welcome addition on HomeView. However, I didn’t find much information about how Safari works on HomeView, other than the fact that you can tap “Start Cooking” on a recipe found in the browser to see the steps in a “simplified format.” While HomeView lets you do a lot with simple gestures and voice commands, Apple also includes an onscreen keyboard, so the iPad isn’t the only device in this pair that can type. Depending on the iPad, HomeView may even be comparable in performance: Apple equipped this device with an A18 chip, one generation newer than the A17 Pro in the iPad mini and two generations newer than the A16 chip in the iPad. It works with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, a key selling point for Apple on this device. As with other smart displays, the company wants you to ask Siri AI complex questions and make requests of various apps. This can also be done on some iPads if they support Apple’s AI suite.
iPad can do a lot of things that HomeView can’t.
HomeView and the iPad may seem remarkably similar, but Apple’s tablet has many exclusive features. Perhaps the most important is the iPad’s native operating system. It may not be macOS, but you can run multiple apps simultaneously, including desktop-style window management if you prefer. Speaking of apps, you’ll have far more options on the iPad than on HomeView. While HomeView’s support for third-party apps is great, the iPad can also access the entire App Store; HomeView can’t.
iPads also support a mouse and keyboard if you don’t want to rely on gestures and touch for everything. There’s also Apple Pencil support; it’s optional, but useful. And while both devices have front-facing cameras, all iPads have rear-facing cameras—some are better than others, but all are very useful. During a FaceTime video call, you don’t have to rotate the entire device to show something in front of you. There are plenty of other small features that may be important to some but not others, such as a USB-C port or support for external storage.
HomeView has its own exclusive features.
On the other hand, HomeView has advantages the iPad doesn’t. While you can prop up your iPad on a stand in the kitchen, you can’t use HomeView’s special “clock faces.” This includes the Home clock face, which displays all your smart devices on the screen as tiles. If your home is relatively smart, this is useful (not to mention stylish) and a bit more convenient than simply opening the Home app on your iPad. In this regard, HomeView’s other clock faces make it stand out in your home: you can use it as a dynamic clock or calendar with fun designs and effects. Even the Weather app face looks better on HomeView than the Weather app on your iPad.
HomeView really reaches its potential when you have multiple people in your home—at least on paper. Apple claims the device can recognize up to six different users and personalize the experience for each. You can customize the look of the Home screen and access only your own data (like messages); then, when another family member logs into HomeView, they can access their own personal settings. This kind of personalization is great, and it’s something that’s sorely missed on the iPad. Hopefully, Apple will add profiles to iPadOS in the future, as it does on macOS. In the meantime, HomeView offers a much better experience for multiple users.
HomeView also has an advantage in terms of acoustics, especially if you buy the model with a stand. Apple states that the screen is equipped with two full-range speakers, while the base houses a downward-firing woofer and two passive radiators with vibration-cancelling functionality. If you opted for an iPad with a stand, you would need some kind of external audio solution to match, which would only increase your costs.
HomeView is truly worth the price.
If you’re hesitant to buy an iPad as an alternative to HomeView, price may be the deciding factor. Apple sells HomeView with a stand for $299, which seems a bit steep at first glance. But you get a lot for the money, especially when you consider other options: Apple’s cheapest iPad is still quite expensive , retailing for $449. The iPad mini , which offers a more comparable screen size to HomeView, is even more expensive. Your best bet is to find a refurbished iPad , but even then, you’ll likely spend more than HomeView is worth. And that’s before you factor in the cost of a stand or even alternative audio solutions, like a Bluetooth speaker or HomePod mini .
If you plan to use your iPad not only as a smart home display but also as a full-fledged tablet, the extra cost may be worth it. After all, you can switch between FaceTime calls in the kitchen, sending emails, creating music in GarageBand, or playing games like Minecraft and Stardew Valley . But if your main goal is to find a smart display that fits well into your existing Apple ecosystem, HomeView is a good option.