Apple’s $299 HomeView has barely reached stores, and early reviews are already exposing serious problems with Siri AI, the very feature Apple expects customers to pay a premium for. Reviewers report slow responses, failed commands, missing features, and privacy concerns, raising uncomfortable questions about why Apple released another expensive device with unfinished software.
The HomeView launched on November 13 with a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 chip, facial recognition, and smart home controls. Apple markets it as an intelligent household assistant, but its long-awaited Siri AI overhaul remains in beta, and the early experience suggests Apple still has considerable work ahead.
Reviewers Are Losing Patience With Siri AI
Technology journalist Joanna Stern’s HomeView review describes the frustration of living with Apple’s supposedly smarter assistant. After testing the device in her kitchen, she wrote:
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“In more than 15 years of reviewing gadgets, I’ve never seriously considered crying over one. Until now.”
Stern’s criticism reflects a recurring problem with Apple’s AI strategy. The company has produced another impressive piece of hardware while asking customers to accept software that still struggles to deliver the experience advertised.
Her video review on YouTube also examines how HomeView performs in a real household compared with Apple’s polished marketing promises.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy at The Verge found that Siri AI frequently struggled with personal-context requests, sometimes responding slowly or failing altogether.
“If Siri AI were a human personal assistant, I’d fire her for being too slow.”
That’s particularly damaging for a product whose biggest selling point is hands-free intelligence.
Even Basic Features Are Failing for Some Buyers
The complaints extend to early customers. In a Reddit discussion about HomeView’s Siri problems, one owner reported that the assistant refused to set a timer because it supposedly needed a newer operating system, despite the device already being updated.
Another HomeView owner reported similar problems with timers and opening Safari.
These are individual user reports, but they highlight how frustrating Apple’s software inconsistencies can become when customers expect simple voice commands to work immediately.
The broader criticism is equally concerning. Tom’s Guide concluded:
“Siri isn’t as capable as other AI assistants.”
Its review also criticized limited customization, fewer streaming applications, and the absence of a physical camera or microphone disable button.
Privacy Concerns Make Things Worse
Perhaps the most troubling finding comes from The Verge, where the reviewer discovered that family members’ personal information could appear on the shared display.
She reported being able to read her daughter’s text messages, exposing a serious weakness in a device designed for communal spaces.
HomeView recognizes up to six people through facial recognition, yet the review suggests Apple’s approach to switching personal profiles needs improvement.
That is particularly concerning given how heavily Apple promotes privacy throughout its ecosystem.
$299 for Beta Software, With More Charges Coming
Apple charges $299 for HomeView, with wall-mounting accessories costing an additional $59.95 to $129.95. Buyers also face limitations on third-party applications and must rely on compatible iPhones or iPads for certain personal features.
Worse, Apple has already confirmed that some Siri AI features have daily usage limits, with expanded access eventually requiring payment.
Apple is effectively asking customers to pay $299 for an AI-powered product whose assistant remains unfinished, while reserving the right to charge more for additional AI usage.
There are positive reviews. TechRadar praised HomeView’s sound and personalization, while AppleInsider’s video review acknowledged software frustrations despite recommending the device.
However, impressive hardware cannot excuse unreliable software at this price.
Apple has spent years promising a more capable Siri, and customers have already waited long enough. Selling another first-generation device with beta AI, missing functionality, and unresolved privacy concerns makes HomeView difficult to recommend.
At $299, customers deserve a finished product rather than another expensive opportunity to test Apple’s software.
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