The iPad is already a great screen for the smart home
Many Apple users were eagerly awaiting the company’s first smart home hub. This is not surprising, given the vast market for HomeKit accessories. But the thing is that the iPads were already fulfilling that function for many users who were already in the Apple ecosystem without even realizing it.
Think about most of the things you’re likely to do with HomeView: check the weather, control the lights, send a message, play music. You can now do all of these things with an iPad without having to buy a new device. In fact, many Apple users have already turned an old iPad into a de facto smart home display by simply placing it on a stand.
The new iPad mini OLED has a larger screen and more capabilities than the HomeView.
Romano Loyola/Casting
Of course, there are important differences between the two. The iPad wasn’t designed to be a smart hub and lacks some of HomeView’s really useful features, like an always-on display and private multi-user support. Still, in other areas, the iPad ends up being much more versatile. The iPad can run virtually any app from the App Store, while there is no mechanism for installing apps on HomeView. And even the iPad mini has a larger canvas than HomeView for widgets.
In terms of design, the iPad also has some advantages. The base model has an 11-inch screen, compared to the HomeView’s 7-inch screen. Plus, the iPad has a built-in battery, so you can move it around your house freely. With HomeView you have to think about where to place it and leave it there.
Not only that, but you must decide if you want HomeView with its base or with its wall mount; there is no way to switch between the two. With the iPad you can do it. Sure, HomeView has better speakers and a design that looks better sitting on the kitchen counter. But is it really worth giving up everything else?
The things HomeView does best
To be fair, it’s not that HomeView doesn’t have advantages over the iPad. The first is Apple Intelligence: if you buy the cheapest iPad available today, it lacks even the most basic native Apple AI features. HomeView is powered by the A18 chip in the iPhone 16, so it works with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. It can answer more complex questions and even extract contextual information from your iPhone. The basic iPad, on the other hand, is still stuck with the old Siri. However, it’s only a matter of time before the base model iPad gets a chip capable of running Siri AI.
