Apple's first smart home display is muscling into a market that Amazon currently dominates, with products like the popular Echo Show 8. Here's how the new HomeView compares to Amazon's counterpart.
Apple's long-rumored smart home refresh was more than just the expected updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini. Consumers had a new device to consider adding to their abode.
The HomeView is Apple's first foray into smart home displays, as part of its fresh push into the connected home market. All to make the new and improved Siri AI the center of your digital home.
However, Apple finds itself taking on the incumbent market leaders with its first attempt at a new smart home product. That means Apple's facing off against Amazon and its Echo lineup.
Due to being the closest in terms of display size, it's worth looking at how the HomeView compares against the Echo Show 8.
While this is a comparison of specifications, that's not the entire story. The gap is as much about ecosystem as hardware.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Specifications
| Specifications | Apple HomeView (Freestanding) | Amazon Echo Show 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Starting Price | $299 | $199.99 |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.73 wide, 5.38 to 6.82 tall, 3.78 to 5.13 deep | 8.3 x 5 x 5.9 |
| Weight (pounds) | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Display | 7-inch Liquid Retina, Multi-Touch IPS, True Tone | 8.7-inch HD, Touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1,088 x 1,088 | 800 x 1,340 |
| Processor | Apple A18 | Amazon AZ3 Pro |
| Voice assistant | Siri AI with Apple Intelligence | Alexa+ |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage, f/2.4 | 13MP with auto-framing |
| Audio | Two full-range drivers, Down-firing woofer, Dual passive radiators, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos | 2.8-inch woofer, Two full-range drivers, Spatial audio |
| Microphones | Four | Five |
| Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, Thread | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, Zigbee, Thread |
| Smart home hub | Home app, HomeKit, Matter, Thread | Alexa, Zigbee, Matter, Thread |
| Sensors | Ambient light, Temperature and humidity, Accelerometer | Ambient light Temperature Presence |
| Video calling | FaceTime | Alexa calling, Zoom |
| Colors | Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, Space Gray | Glacier White, Graphite |
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Design and build
At face value, the two models are roughly the same in terms of basic design. They both take the form of a display mounted on a speaker base.
The HomeView ships in two forms, with one being on a domed stand, with vents in the base and a stainless steel hinge holding the display. That hinge allows you to tilt the screen to a better angle.
The wall-mounted version doesn't use a stand, but instead can be fixed to the wall. This is handy if you don't particularly want to clutter up any desk or shelf space.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: HomeView from one side
The Echo Show 8, a fourth-generation model, also takes the form of a base with a display attached to the front. However, there is no hinge mechanism here, meaning you can't re-angle the display and you're stuck with the angle it's mounted at.
You can get hold of a "Premium Adjustable Stand" from Amazon, which solves the problem with a plinth underneath the base of the Echo Show 8. That means you're tilting the entire device, not just the screen.
There is no wall-mount option for Amazon's device.
Oddly, we could describe the Echo Show 8 as being somewhat reminiscent of rumors for Apple's device. The HomeView was thought to be on a half-dome similar to a HomePod, which Amazon emulates with a 3D knit cover.
Apple, meanwhile, has gone for a brushed aluminum aesthetic.
When it comes to size, the HomeView is 5.73 inches wide, 5.13 inches deep, and 6.82 inches tall at the extremes, including the base. The wall-mounted version is 5.73 inches wide, 5.73 inches tall, and 0.39 inches thick.
The Echo Show 8 is 8.3 inches wide by 5.9 inches tall, and 5 inches deep.
The weight of the HomeView, at 2.1 pounds in total for the free-standing version, with the bulk coming from the base section. The wall-mounted model is a much lighter 10.1 ounces.
The Echo Show 8 is heavier overall at 2.3 pounds.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Display
The movable HomeView display uses a seven-inch Liquid Retina display. It's an LED-backlit IPS screen with multi-touch and True Tone.
Amazon opts for an 8.7-inch HD touchscreen, which is a little bigger. However, it's also a more conventional rectangular display compared to Apple's square version.
On resolution, Apple sits at 1,088 by 1,088, giving it a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch. While not really high compared to other Apple products, the HomeView still beats out the Echo Show 8's 179 pixels per inch.
The relatively low-quality screens aren't a massive problem, as these devices are expected to be used for smart home purposes. Both managing your home and your devices, as well as handling some video tasks.
Of course, they can be used to make video calls with other people.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: HomeView mounted on a wall
However, while the Echo Show 8 is able to stream from Prime Video, Netflix, and others, the HomeView cannot on its own. Instead, it leverages CarPlay for streaming, meaning you need an iPhone or iPad nearby, and the app needs to be CarPlay compatible for media playback.
At this time, there are no App Store plans for the HomeView, though that could always change in the future. For the moment, it's an unusual foible for Apple's hardware.
It's an interesting distinction between the two, and it certainly helps the case for Amazon's device. But, if you're at home, you've probably got a much bigger device to watch shows on elsewhere.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Camera and audio
Despite their smart home focus, the two models are fully capable of taking and making video calls.
The HomeView uses a 12MP Center Stage camera, which can be used to record footage for a FaceTime call. As the name implies, it is also able to reframe the camera, so that you're always in view and in the middle of the shot while mid-conversation.
The Echo Show 8 boasts similar capabilities, with its 13MP camera with auto-framing.
For audio, the HomeView uses a pair of full-range drivers, with a custom down-firing woofer and dual force-cancelling passive radiators in the base. The wall-mounted version just has the two full-range drivers.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Placing a FaceTime call on HomeView
There's also Spatial Audio support with Dolby Atmos, computational audio for real-time tuning, and multi-room audio playback with AirPlay. Yes, you can treat it like a really fancy HomePod.
The Echo has a 2.8-inch woofer and two full-range drivers for the same job. Amazon also claims there's room-filling spatial audio support too.
For audio recording, the Echo Show 8 uses an array of five far-field microphones at the top and base of the display.
Likewise, Apple uses a four-mic design for far-field Siri support, all in the display portion.
Though we are familiar with Apple's penchant for user privacy, Amazon goes one stage better. It has a dedicated button for enabling and disabling the camera and microphones.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Connectivity and smart home
Both displays act as a hub for a smart home. Each supports the cross-platform Matter and Thread standards, though Amazon also includes Zigbee to the party.
The HomeView carries Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6, complete with peer-to-peer discovery on the Wi-Fi for guest access. The Echo Show 8 matches the Wi-Fi 6E radio, but with the older Bluetooth 5.4.
Apple has its well-known HomeKit support as well as the Home app, and it also supported Matter devices in recent years. Apple is also introducing quite a lot of devices from third parties as part of its new smart home push, which may help it further its platform.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Controlling a thermostat on HomeView
Amazon, too, is a massive part of the smart home industry, which gives it a massive advantage. While Matter devices will also work with the Echo Show 8, Amazon's historic support for smart home hardware and devices that support its platform is a big plus here.
You will find hardware supporting both sides, sure, but you'll tend to see items supporting Amazon Alexa more often than HomeKit, even now.
When it comes to being used, both have a fairly similar amount of services. You can play music and podcasts, as well as read things like recipes and view photographs on each.
Naturally, you can also control your smart home network from the displays.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Siri AI, Alexa, and identity
The core part of each device is its use with a digital assistant.
For Amazon, there's Alexa+, which is free for Prime users. This is a more advanced form of Alexa, which connects to other services and provides more personalization than the standard assistant.
While advanced, remember that Alexa has deep hooks into Amazon's retail empire. You're going to get a lot of shopping-related features front and center.
The HomeView runs Siri AI, powered by Apple Intelligence. Apple pitches broad world knowledge and natural language replies.
While each has its own ecosystem to manage, they also benefit from being able to identify you.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: You'll only see your calendar on HomeView.
Amazon has Omnisense, which uses a number of onboard sensors to respond to environmental cues and to determine which from a list of preregistered users are nearby. This uses a combination of proximity and presence detection, temperature sensing, adaptive brightness, and visual ID, namely using the camera.
While Siri AI includes things like personal context, the HomeView version relies on having a device nearby, like an iPhone or iPad, linked to your account. If it spots your device on the local network, HomeView will gladly assume you're able to view your personal content on the display.
Though it doesn't use Face ID, it does have facial recognition to shift the home screen to your personal version. Even so, you need a recently unlocked iPhone nearby too to see personal content.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Pricing
The Apple HomeView costs $299 for either the freestanding or wall-mounted model. The wall version is sold in a choice of Space Gray or Silver, with the freestanding one also gaining Starlight and Rose Pink.
As an aside, you will have to pay for a wall mount, which pushes the price up. For example, you could get a launch mount from Schneider, starting from $59.95.
The Echo Show 8 costs $199.99 without discounts, but you can get it for $149.99 right now, in Glacier White or Graphite. The version with the Premium Adjustable Stand costs $239.99, with similar periodic discounts.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Which to buy?
It's safe to say that there's a lot of similarity between the two models. There are some small differences, like the screen resolution and size, and being able to move it at all on the HomeView without a separate stand.
The real differences here are in ecosystem and in cost.
For most people, if the cost was the same, they would want to go with which supports their existing collection of smart home-capable devices and their mobile hardware the best. For Apple users, that would be the HomeView, while more Android-centric households will err to the Echo Show 8.
The other big element, cost, is one that Amazon will almost certainly with on. Apple hardware always has a premium, while Amazon tends to service the cheaper end of the market.
Apple HomeView vs Amazon Echo Show 8: The HomeView color range
That said, a price difference of $100, without taking into account Amazon's discounts, is still a lot to consider at this price range.
Arguably Apple's ace card here, ignoring ecosystem, is its wall-mounted option. You don't have that with the Echo Show 8, and you'd have to spend $349 to do it with the Echo Show 15.
Sure, you have to get a mount for Apple's version, but you can expect cheaper options to hit the market soon instead of forking out for the pricey Schneider models.
The HomeView is certainly the premium option, but it provides a lot to its users for the money. At the very least, it gives Amazon some very healthy competition in the space.
Where to buy the Apple HomeView and Echo Show 8
Amazon's Echo Show 8 retails for $199.99, but it's currently on sale for $149.99 at the time of this comparison.
You can also pick up the larger Echo Show 15 for $349.99 at Amazon.
Apple's HomeView, meanwhile, retails for $299 from Apple directly, as well as on Amazon. You can also compare offers across popular retailers in our HomeView Price Guide.
