Apple has announced that its new HomeView smart home hub will be available in two versions: a wall-mounted model and a standalone model with a speaker base. Both come with the same $299 price tag—but the wall-mounted edition may leave you paying more when all is said and done, and getting less in hardware.
Wall-Mounting Means Extra Hardware Costs
The wall-mounted HomeView requires additional mounting hardware, which isn’t included and starts at $59.95. Apple is offering three mounting options:
• Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector — costs $59.95, using a supplied mount with a standard USB-C cable; owners must provide a power adapter rated 20W or higher.
• Power Mount AC Wired — priced at $79.95, this mount hides the cable through in-wall wiring and Apple is partnering with ADT for installation services.
• Power Mount PoE Wired — at $129.95, this version delivers hardwired power over Ethernet. It’s not available right now, but will be offered later for homes equipped with PoE infrastructure.
There’s also a version without any mount hardware included, letting users source third-party mounts themselves—but options are currently limited.
Hardware Differences & Color Trims
Aside from the mounting, there are internal and aesthetic trade-offs to consider. Both HomeView versions include two high-performance display-integrated full-range speakers. However, the speaker base version adds a down-firing woofer and two passive radiators that aren’t part of the wall-mounted model. Acoustics are tuned differently too: the wall mount uses computational audio optimized for wall placement.
On color, the wall-mounted model is restricted to silver and space gray finishes. If you want starlight or rose pink, those are exclusive to the version with the speaker base.
Pre-orders for HomeView open now, with units shipping November 13.
Analytically speaking, Apple’s pricing strategy here suggests a push toward a sleeker, more integrated smart home aesthetic—but at the cost of audio fidelity and flexibility. For buyers, the total cost of wall mounting will easily exceed the base price once hardware and installation are added. The speaker-base version, by contrast, gives more sonic capability and color variety for the same upfront cost. It’s worth asking: do you want the clean look, or the better sound? Either choice means paying full price.
