HomeView doesn’t natively support any video apps yet — not even Apple’s

The Apple HomeView requires your iPhone to stream video content, unlike competing smart displays.

Apple's new HomeView smart display does not natively support key Apple applications such as Apple TV, Apple Music Classical, Apple Books audiobooks, and Apple News Plus. Users must AirPlay content from an iPhone to use these services on the device, despite promotional images suggesting otherwise. The HomeView hardware is powered by an A18 chip, capable of running demanding applications, but its software operates more like Apple CarPlay, requiring a connected iPhone for many functions. Unlike competitors such as Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub, which natively stream video services like Prime Video and YouTube, HomeView lacks native support for most video apps. Apple has not yet provided a reason for this limitation or indicated if it will be addressed in the future. The device also does not feature an App Store, making the iPhone connection crucial for third-party app integration.

The HomeView's lack of native video app support, necessitating AirPlay from an iPhone, creates a significant user experience gap compared to rivals like Echo Show and Nest Hub. This design choice positions HomeView more as a smart home controller and less as a media consumption hub, potentially disappointing users expecting a seamless entertainment experience. The reliance on an iPhone also mirrors the functionality of CarPlay, suggesting a deliberate choice by Apple to maintain a tiered ecosystem where certain devices require a host smartphone for advanced features.

This limitation impacts the perceived value of HomeView as a standalone device and raises questions about Apple's strategy for its smart home hardware. For developers, the absence of an App Store and the reliance on iPhone connectivity means that bringing new video or audio experiences to HomeView will be contingent on both Apple's willingness to expand native support and developers' capacity to integrate with the AirPlay or CarPlay-like framework. Future updates or new hardware iterations will likely be scrutinized for improvements in native app functionality.