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Apple's smart home hub launches on November 13th, just not here. There's no release date for the EU, and Siri AI doesn't yet speak German. However, those who want to control their homes with Apple Home can still do so, albeit with two devices instead of one.
Apple will begin selling HomeView on November 13th in eight countries, including the US and the UK. The EU is not included because Siri AI is not available there on iOS; Switzerland is also not on the list. According to Apple, they are working on a solution with the EU, but the company has not specified a date. The features of the device, which has a 7-inch display, camera, and speaker, can be found in the Apple HomeView overview.
HomeView combines four functions: control center, display, speaker, and camera for video calls. No alternative covers all four with Apple Home. However, most of these functions can be separated in Germany, sometimes for less than the $299 HomeView costs in the US. The prices in this article are for Germany, as of November 4th.
Key Facts at a Glance
- HomeView will be launched on November 13th in eight countries; there is no date set for the EU and Switzerland.
- The HomePod mini 2, priced at 169 euros, serves as the control center for Apple Home, while an iPad provides the display.
- An iPad can no longer act as a control center on its own; it needs a HomePod or an Apple TV for that.
- The Echo Show 8 and 11 come closest to being a complete device, but run on Alexa instead of Apple Home.
- Importing isn't worth it: iPhones in the EU lack Siri AI, and German isn't on Apple's language list.
Why the wait can take longer
Home View faces two hurdles, not one. The first is the EU: Apple justifies the sales halt with the lack of Siri AI on EU iPhones. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who has accurately described Apple's plans for years, cites iOS 27 as the best-case scenario, roughly five months after the launch of iOS 27, which would be mid-February. His statement refers to iPhones and iPads, not Home View.
The second hurdle is language. According to Apple, Siri AI on HomeView will initially run in English. While the system as a whole has added more languages since the 27.2 updates, German is not among them and has no release date. Because Siri AI is the core of HomeView, an EU launch alone would not, as things stand, make the device fully available in this country.
In addition, there are the accessories: The cameras and doorbell of the Apple Home Collection will be released in the US, Canada, and the UK, while the lock and thermostats will only be available in the US and Canada. There is no release date yet for German-speaking countries.
The alternatives compared
| Device | Display | Apple Home hub | Thread | Assistant | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomePod mini 2 | no | Yes | Yes | Siri | 169 euros |
| HomePod | no | Yes | Yes | Siri | 399 euros |
| Apple TV 4K | via television | Yes | Yes | Siri | 349 euros |
| iPad (A16) | 11 inches | no | no | Siri | from 499 euros |
| Echo Show 8 | 8.7 inches | no | Yes | Alexa | 219.99 euros |
| Echo Show 11 | 11 inches | no | Yes | Alexa | 269.99 euros |
| Nest Hub (2nd Generation) | 7 inch | no | Yes | Gemini (Early Access) | 99.99 euros |
Thread here refers to its suitability as a Thread hub. For Apple Home, HomePod and Apple TV are the established options. The Apple TV 4K with the A19 chip will be available on November 13th and can already be pre-ordered.
The central hub: HomePod mini 2 or Apple TV 4K
The control center is the part of HomeView that's already available in this country. According to Apple's support document, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV fulfill this role. A HomePod automatically becomes the control center during setup, while an Apple TV becomes one as soon as it's assigned to a room in the Home app. The process is described in the HomePod setup guide.
The most affordable entry point is the HomePod mini 2 for €169. According to the specifications, it features Thread and is therefore also compatible with Matter accessories that use this wireless network. In terms of sound quality and price, the HomePod, at €399, is significantly more advanced, as can be seen in the comparison of the two speakers.
The Apple TV 4K, priced at €349, is the ideal choice for anyone who already wants a set-top box connected to their TV. It also works with Thread. Whether the device is worthwhile in addition to the TV's built-in apps is explained in the article "Apple TV 4K or Smart TV Apps".
The display: an iPad on the wall or on the table
For the screen, only the iPad remains in Apple's lineup. The Home app runs on it with accessories, scenes, and camera images. However, in the current version of Apple Home, an iPad can no longer act as a control center; one of the other control centers mentioned above is still required.
No one needs to buy a new one. The cheapest iPad starts at €499; the iPad buying guide lists the other models. However, an older device lying around in a drawer is often sufficient for a fixed display.
Two settings make this a fixed display. Under „Settings“ > „Accessibility“ > „Guided Access,“ the iPad can be restricted to a single app, and „Auto-Lock Display“ determines how long the screen stays on. This prevents other people in the household from accidentally accessing the other apps.
For those who want more than the Home app, there are third-party dashboards available. The free app HomePad by Stephen Robles imports devices and scenes from Apple Home, arranges them in customizable tiles, and displays camera images. It requires iPadOS 26 or later and is only available in English.
What an iPad can't replicate is Home View's facial recognition with its own home screen for up to six people. An iPad also lacks its own subwoofer like Home View, but it can stream music to the HomePod via AirPlay.
Echo Show: the complete device from another system
Amazon's Echo Show comes closest to the HomeView principle. The Echo Show 8 with an 8.7-inch screen costs €219.99, while the Echo Show 11 with an 11-inch Full HD screen costs €269.99. Both feature a 13-megapixel camera and function as a hub for Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. The smaller Echo Show 5, priced at €119.99, has a 2-megapixel camera and only includes a Matter controller.
Amazon has the edge when it comes to language: Alexa+ has been available in German since May, and Amazon sells both models with the "Early Access" label. After this phase, Alexa+ will be included for Prime members; without Prime, it costs €22.99 per month.
The price for this is a second system. Across manufacturers, Matter is the common ground between Apple Home and Alexa. According to Apple, paired Matter accessories can also be set up in other Matter-enabled apps, so that lights or plugs work in both systems. Accessories that only support HomeKit, however, remain in the Home app. FaceTime, Handoff, and „Find My“ are not available on the Echo Show anyway.
Google Nest Hub: small, no camera, already older
Google's second-generation Nest Hub has a 7-inch display like the Home View, but lacks a camera and uses Matter and Thread technology. Released in 2021, it costs €99.99 in the Google Store.
Gemini for Home has been rolling out in Germany as an Early Access app since June. Basic functions don't require a subscription, while free calls with Gemini Live cost €10 per month. For Apple Home households, the same limitation applies as with the Echo Show: Matter is the shared platform, while purely HomeKit-compatible accessories remain within the Home app.
Why importing from Great Britain solves nothing
HomeView is available for order in the UK, so the device is within reach. However, this doesn't solve the problem: according to Apple, personal requests require a paired iPhone or iPad with Siri AI enabled, and this feature is missing on iPhones and iPads in the EU. Even with Siri AI, the assistant would still only offer voice support without German language support.
The situation could change with an agreement between Apple and the EU. Until then, importing a display would be expensive and of uncertain functionality, and the existing alternatives will remain useful even after a later launch.
Why I wouldn't wait with the headquarters
I wouldn't switch the hub to HomeView. A HomePod mini 2 won't lose its value if HomeView eventually arrives here: Apple envisions both for multi-room music playback, and the HomeView tag page shows how much development is still underway for that device. Based on the current situation, I don't expect an EU launch before Christmas.
Therefore, I recommend this order: first, a HomePod mini 2 or Apple TV 4K as the hub, then an existing iPad as a display. An Echo Show is the better choice for households that already use Alexa or want a ready-made device with a camera. For a pure Apple Home setup, the only option remains using Matter.
Would you mount an iPad on the wall until Home View is released, or would an Echo Show be a better interim solution for you? Let us know in the comments what your setup would look like until then.
Frequently Asked Questions: Apple Home View Alternatives
Not yet. Apple will sell HomeView in eight countries starting November 13th, excluding the EU and Switzerland. According to Apple, they are working on a solution with the EU, but have not specified a date.
Apple explains this by stating that Siri AI is currently unavailable on iOS in the EU. Siri AI is the core of Home View.
No. Siri AI will launch in English on HomeView. Apple has not yet announced a date for a German version.
For Apple Home, it's the combination of a control center and a display. The HomePod mini 2, priced at €169, acts as the control center, while an iPad displays the Home app.
Partially. An iPad displays accessories, scenes, and camera images in the Home app, but it's not a control center itself. For that, you need a HomePod or an Apple TV. Facial recognition, which allows Home View to distinguish between up to six people, is also missing.
The Echo Show is not a control center for Apple Home. However, Matter accessories can also be set up in other Matter-compatible apps and will then work in both systems. Purely HomeKit accessories remain in the Home app.
Probably not. Personal requests require a paired iPhone or iPad with Siri AI enabled, and that's not available on iPhones and iPads in the EU. Furthermore, the assistant doesn't speak German.
