As of: 2026-10-15 10:09 CEST.
Researched and written by AI agents (Claude Opus 5.5 in Claude Code), with a human editor. How we work: https://postcutoff.com/about/
Canonical page: https://postcutoff.com/v/mkbhd-apple-homeview-impressions/

# Apple Homeview Impressions: Not Convinced!

Marques Brownlee, 13 October 2026, YouTube. 6,235,125 views as of 15 October 2026.
Kind: Review.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVv3mQzlrN0

## Why it is here

Marques Brownlee's first impressions (11:47) of Apple HomeView, Apple's Siri AI smart display. 6.2M views in a day and a half.

## Description (written by Gemini from the video)

**Summary**  
Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) presents a hands-on first-impressions review of Apple's newly announced smart home lineup, focusing on the Apple HomeView smart display alongside the HomePod mini 2 and refreshed Apple TV 4K. He evaluates the HomeView's hardware design, pricing, operating system, facial recognition features, audio quality, and overall market positioning.

**What is shown**  
- **[00:03 - 00:23]** Demonstration and b-roll of the HomePod mini 2 (new colors and top display matching album art), new Apple TV 4K, and the HomeView countertop device.
- **[00:44 - 01:26]** Hands-on inspection of the HomeView's 7-inch square display, metal base, articulating arm, top camera, and speaker setup.
- **[02:05 - 02:24]** Demonstrations of both the countertop stand version and the wall-mounted version mounted on a wall.
- **[02:45 - 02:52]** Apple press release text displaying accessory pricing for wall-mount adapters from Schneider Home.
- **[03:28 - 03:47]** Customizing HomeView clock faces with Apple Watch–style styles, modular complications, and color pickers.
- **[03:48 - 03:59]** Swiping up to navigate the app drawer and home screen widgets.
- **[04:20 - 04:33]** Demo of facial recognition triggering "Fast Account Switching" to show personalized calendar events and messages.
- **[06:31 - 06:44]** Close-up of the USB-C power connection at the back of the base (no built-in battery).
- **[07:23 - 07:43]** Testing the screen in various lighting conditions, highlighting the LCD display, black bezels, and True Tone adaptation.
- **[08:13 - 08:30]** Tapping an iPhone to the HomePod mini and HomeView to hand off audio and FaceTime calls.
- **[09:36 - 09:47]** Overview graphic of the "Apple Home Collection" accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric (smart lock, indoor/outdoor cameras, thermostat, doorbell).

**Claims & numbers**  
- The presenter says Apple introduced the HomePod mini 2 with new colors and an album-art-matching top display, a refreshed Apple TV 4K with far-field microphones and a speaker-equipped Find My remote, and the HomeView.
- The presenter notes competitor pricing: Google Nest Hub Max at $229 and Amazon Echo Hub at $179.
- The presenter states the Apple HomeView costs $299 for both the countertop stand model and the wall-mounted version.
- The presenter highlights that the wall-mounted version lacks the base woofer and requires a separate adapter purchase: USB-C wall connector ($59.95), AC wired power mount ($79.95), or Power over Ethernet (PoE) wired mount ($129.95).
- The presenter notes the wall-mounted model is only available in silver and space gray.
- The presenter states HomeView is powered by an Apple A18 chip and runs a dedicated OS (HomeView OS).
- The display is a 7-inch square LCD reaching up to 500 nits maximum brightness and down to 0.3 nits minimum brightness, with True Tone support and a 60 Hz refresh rate.
- The presenter states the device features a single 12 MP Center Stage front camera supporting Fast Account Switching for up to 6 profiles, but lacks full 3D Face ID/infrared sensors and lacks personalized voice recognition.
- The presenter notes there is no App Store or native third-party apps, though audio and services can be beamed from an iPhone using the CarPlay standard or AirPlay.

**Notable quotes**  
- **[00:39]** *"I actually don't think this first offering is very convincing."*
- **[03:07]** *"So why are they the same price? Why do they cost the same amount? I'm not sure I've figured that one out."*
- **[11:11]** *"So yeah, my first impression is I think it's a skip for most people."*

**Assessment**  
This is an authentic tech review and hands-on impressions video by Marques Brownlee filmed following Apple's product briefing. The footage contains real device interactions, UI demonstrations, and hands-on testing mixed with studio commentary and official press imagery.

_Described by gemini-3.8-flash on 2026-10-15 from the video's audio and frames._

## Related

- 2026-10-13: [Apple announces HomeView, its first smart display, plus a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2, all built around Siri AI; HomeView will not be sold in the EU](https://postcutoff.com/e/2026-10-13-apple-homeview-siri-ai-home-devices/)