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Is the HomeView worth it?
The Apple HomeView is worth waiting on for most buyers: 6 critics average 7.5 out of 10, praising the design, sound and smart home control but faulting the thin third-party app support and slow Siri responses. This page is a consensus of published reviews, not hands-on testing.
The typical US price in reviews is $299, and India Today quotes Rs 39,900 for the Indian market. Scores range widely, from 5 out of 10 at Tom's Guide to a perfect 10 at T3, which suggests the value depends heavily on how much of your home already runs on Apple.
What critics loved
Design is the most common point of praise. XDA liked the iMac G4-inspired look, India Today called the build superb, and TechRadar singled out the premium look and clock faces. The Verge called the customizable faces gorgeous.
Sound also scored well. XDA put it on par with the HomePod mini, T3 praised Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, and The Verge called it great for its size. Tom's Guide agreed the audio is good.
Smart home control and personal features drew praise too. T3 liked that it recognizes up to six household members and keeps their info separate, while The Verge highlighted speedy control and excellent guided cooking. XDA and India Today both liked the FaceTime experience.
Where it falls short
The app situation is the biggest complaint. XDA says third-party support is nearly non-existent with no app store, TechRadar notes no App Store at launch, and India Today lists no third-party apps. The Verge calls the app and widget situation funky, and Tom's Guide cites fewer streaming apps and widgets.
Siri is the second recurring issue. XDA, TechRadar and The Verge all found it slow at times, and Tom's Guide says it lags behind Alexa+ and that Amazon's smart displays offer more features.
Privacy and price add further catches. The Verge found personal texts too easily readable by other household members, and Tom's Guide noted no physical button to disable the camera or mic. XDA calls it very expensive for a smart display, and The Verge notes wall mounts cost extra, from $59.99 to $129.99. TechRadar adds that it requires an iPhone and has no swivel.
