Apple’s new HomeView can run several Apple Intelligence features on its own, but some capabilities still require a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. The restrictions affect personal Siri requests, customizable Siri voices and intelligent searches through HomeKit Secure Video recordings.

HomeView includes an A18 chip and launches November 13. Apple lists both the tabletop and wall-mounted models at $299 in the United States.

Personal Siri requests need a compatible device

According to Apple, Siri requests that rely on a user’s personal context require a paired iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence. The device must also run the latest software, have Siri AI enabled and use a supported language.

That requirement applies when HomeView needs to retrieve relevant information from Messages or Calendar, or take actions across apps using information specific to the user. In other words, the HomeView itself cannot provide these more personalized functions unless the paired device meets Apple’s compatibility requirements.

Users with an iPhone or iPad that does not support Apple Intelligence will still have access to some Siri AI features on HomeView. Apple says they can ask general-knowledge questions, have more natural conversations with Siri and receive improved music discovery suggestions.

Siri requests made on HomeView may be processed on the device or through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute system.

Custom Siri voices have stricter hardware limits

HomeView users can also adjust Siri’s expressiveness and speaking pace, but those preferences must be changed on the paired Apple device before carrying over to HomeView. Apple limits this feature to specific hardware and says it is available in English only.

The supported devices listed by Apple include an iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or an iPad with an M4 chip or later and at least 12GB of unified memory.

This makes the voice customization feature more demanding than HomeView’s basic AI functions. A device may support some Siri capabilities without meeting the hardware requirements for these voice controls.

HomeKit video intelligence also depends on an iPhone or iPad

HomeView’s intelligent camera tools have a separate setup requirement. Video summaries and natural-language searches of HomeKit Secure Video recordings must be configured using an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad.

Those features also require an eligible iCloud+ subscription. The requirement means HomeView users will need both compatible Apple hardware and the appropriate cloud service plan to use AI-assisted searches and summaries of supported security-camera footage.

HomeView price and release date

Apple will release HomeView on November 13, with the tabletop and wall-mounted versions each priced at $299 in the US. While the A18 chip allows the device to handle some AI tasks locally, Apple’s requirements show that its most personal features remain connected to the wider iPhone and iPad ecosystem.