It’s been another busy week for Apple, with headlines on Tuesday showing the company unveiling several home-related products as part of a “Welcome Home” launch wave.
And if that wasn’t enough, Friday saw the start of iPhone Duo pre-orders with delivery estimates quickly slipping by several months due to its popularity and apparent product shortages, as we look forward to even more product launches later this month, so read below for all the details!
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Apple announces “HomeView” smart home hub
Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub is finally official, with Apple launching the $299 HomeView this week as part of its “Welcome home” product launch.
Apple HomeView has a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and supports Siri AI, and it’s available in tabletop and wall-mounted versions. The device is capable of recognizing multiple users and adjusting the presentation of information based on the distance between the user and the screen. It supports Face Photos, Apple Music playlists, FaceTime calls, etc.
Pre-orders are underway with a launch scheduled for November 13.
New Apple TV 4K announced with A19 chip, updated Siri Remote and more
While the Apple HomeView was the main attraction of this week’s presentations, the Apple TV box also received its first update in four years with the unveiling of the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.
The new case gets a significant upgrade to the A19 chip, which offers Siri AI support and improved performance. A new Siri Remote (also available separately for older cases) includes support for Find My with Precision Finding and a speaker to let it be heard if lost. And for those times when you want to use Siri without the remote, the case itself now also includes microphones for hands-free Siri AI.
The new box comes with a significant price hike to $299, and it’s available for pre-order now ahead of its November 13 launch.
Apple announces $149 HomePod Mini 2 with Siri AI, ‘Sound Glow’ and four-speaker surround sound
Apple’s third home product announcement this week was a new HomePod mini equipped with Siri AI, new colors, and improved audio experiences. The HomePod mini 2 features an S10 chip that supports advanced computer audio, and Apple says it optimizes dynamic range, volume, and acoustic performance in real time.
A Sound Glow feature turns the top of the HomePod mini into a “visual canvas” that glows and comes alive in sync with the music, reacting to bass and treble. It uses colors generated from the song’s album art for a unique experience for each song.
The HomePod mini 2 is priced at $149 and is available for pre-order now ahead of its launch on October 30. Siri AI will not be available at launch, however, as it will be in a future software update.
iPhone Duo sold out for Christmas as shipping estimates slip to 2027
Apple began accepting iPhone Duo pre-orders in a number of countries on Friday at 5 a.m. PT, with delivery estimates starting to slip within minutes or even seconds. In half an hour, delivery estimates in the United States finally stabilized at the end of January 2027, a delay of three months.
It remains to be seen how much stock, if any, Apple will have in its retail stores for walk-in purchases by the October 23 launch date, and resellers are already selling early pre-orders for up to $5,000.
Apple invites media to October 28 launch experience
After previously announcing that Apple was planning a two-day product showcase in Los Angeles on October 27-28 to allow select content creators and media members to check out even more upcoming Apple products, BloombergMark Gurman of , now claims that Apple has started explicitly inviting members of the media to the October 28 event.
We expect to see several other products launched on October 27 or 28, including new high-end 14- and 16-inch MacBook models with OLED touchscreens, new entry-level iMac and MacBook Pro models based on the M6 chip, and a new iPad mini with an OLED display.
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