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Two of the three new Apple devices for the home are available in stores starting today. The new Apple TV 4K is now also available in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The HomeView smart home hub, however, is only available in eight countries, none of which are in German-speaking regions.
Apple unveiled both devices on October 13, along with the HomePod mini 2, which has been available since October 30. Technical specifications of the box and the HomeView hub can be found in the overviews for the new Apple TV 4K with A19 chip and the HomeView smart home hub. According to Apple's announcement regarding the Apple TV 4K, the box is available in the US and 29 other countries and regions.
The list for HomeView is considerably shorter. The announcement regarding HomeView names the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, and South Africa.
Key Takeaways
- The Apple TV 4K (4th generation) has been available in stores since November 13th, including in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- It costs 349 euros in Germany and Austria and 299 francs in Switzerland.
- An HDMI cable is not included, but the new Siri Remote (4th generation) is.
- HomeView is available in eight countries as of today, but not in the EU or Switzerland.
- The new box is required for surround sound with four HomePods.
Prices in German-speaking countries
Apple sells the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) in a single configuration. According to the German specifications, it has 128 GB of storage, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, and Thread.
| Country | Price |
|---|---|
| Germany | 349 euros |
| Austria | 349 euros |
| Switzerland | 299 francs |
The box contains the Apple TV, the Siri Remote (4th generation), and the power cable. You'll need to provide your own HDMI cable, and for 4K HDR, a Dolby Vision-compatible cable is required. Apple Stores are offering an extended return policy until January 8th. New and returning eligible subscribers also receive three months of Apple TV for free with the purchase; after that, the service costs €9.99 per month.
Surround sound only with the new box
New is the surround sound feature with four speakers. To use this, you pair the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) with four HomePod mini 2 speakers or four HomePods (2nd generation), using identical pairs at the front and rear. A pair of HomePods (2nd generation) at the front and a pair of HomePod mini 2 speakers at the rear is also acceptable.
Older Apple TV models retain two speakers. The procedure for setting up a HomePod stereo pair with Apple TV remains unchanged for these models. The HomePod mini 2 and HomePod 2 speaker comparison is available for comparison purposes.
Siri AI will remain in English for now
The new box's three far-field microphones also understand German, allowing hands-free interaction with Siri. Siri AI, however, is currently only available in English as a beta version on the Apple TV 4K in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, and South Africa. This also applies to older models from the second generation onward, as was already anticipated at the German launch.
According to initial reviews, the box is technically impressive; the main criticism is the price. The assessments from these first tests reveal where the criticism lies.
HomeView is available, just not in German-speaking countries
HomeView costs $299 in the US, both as a desktop and wall-mounted unit. Pre-orders opened on October 13th in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India, and on October 15th in Singapore. Sales in South Africa are handled through authorized dealers.
Apple itself cites the reason for the EU's exclusion: HomeView is not sold there because Siri AI is currently unavailable on iOS in the EU. Apple states that it is working with the EU on a solution. Switzerland is not part of the EU, but it is also not on the initial rollout list. There is no product page for HomeView on Apple's German, Austrian, or Swiss websites.
The first HomeView reviews summarize how the device is being received in the launch countries. Those in Germany looking for a display for their kitchen or hallway can find alternatives in a separate overview until the EU launch.
A half-baked start for Apple Home
For Apple Home users in German-speaking countries, today is a half-day of launch. The box, which acts as the Home Hub and handles remote control of accessories, is here, but the central unit with a display is not. Therefore, I consider the Apple TV 4K the more important of the two devices in this region: It introduces a new feature—room-based sound via four HomePods—that works perfectly even without Siri AI.
According to Apple, HomeView's launch in the EU depends on Siri AI on the iPhone. Therefore, I don't expect HomeView to be available in this country before Siri AI is available for iOS.
Are you upgrading to the new Apple TV 4K now, perhaps even for the surround sound with four HomePods, or are you waiting until Home View is available here? Let me know in the comments what your future Apple Home setup will look like.
