Apple HomeView in Germany: why the smart display is not sold here

What HomeView is

HomeView is Apple's first smart display: a 7-inch screen on a speaker base, plus a version for the wall. According to Apple it plays music and podcasts, makes FaceTime calls, shows up to nine camera feeds at once and controls lights, heating, locks and blinds by touch or voice. It recognises up to six people by their face and gives each of them their own Home Screen.

At its centre is Siri AI, the new version of Siri. With a paired iPhone or iPad it can, according to Apple, draw on personal data such as messages and calendar. That content only appears when HomeView recognises you and your iPhone is nearby and was recently unlocked.

Both models cost 299 US dollars. The wall model comes without a power supply and needs a Schneider Home mount for 59.95 to 129.95 US dollars. Pre-orders opened on 13 October 2026, deliveries start on 13 November.

Why HomeView is not sold in the EU

Apple's press release says: HomeView is not sold in the EU because Siri AI is currently unavailable in iOS in the EU. Apple says it is working constructively with the EU to find a path forward.

Behind this is the dispute over the Digital Markets Act (DMA). According to Apple, it would have to give third-party AI assistants far-reaching access to the iPhone as soon as Siri AI launches there in the EU, and the European Commission accepted none of Apple's proposals. According to MacRumors, the Commission sees it differently: the decision is Apple's alone, and the company asked for an exemption instead of a compliant solution.

Notably, Siri AI is available in the EU on the Mac and Vision Pro, because according to 9to5Mac those devices do not fall under the same DMA obligations as the iPhone. So Apple could probably have offered HomeView without the personal iPhone features. It chose not to sell at all rather than sell a cut-down device.

Can I import HomeView and use it here?

Technically the device fits the German power grid: according to Apple, HomeView handles 100 to 240 volts, and any USB-C power adapter with at least 30 watts (15 V, 2 A) will do. Setup requires an iPhone with iOS 27.2 or an iPad with iPadOS 27.2.

What an imported HomeView can do with a German Apple Account is unclear. Apple says nothing about it. According to Apple, Siri AI on HomeView is English only and limited to the eight launch countries. Personal requests need a paired iPhone or iPad with Siri AI turned on, which is not possible in the EU. For the HomePod mini 2, Apple even states that Siri AI only works if the owner of the home has an iPhone with Siri AI turned on. Whether the same applies to HomeView is not confirmed.

On top of that, warranty and statutory guarantee claims get harder with an imported device, as HIFI.DE notes. The site advises against importing.

What remains without Siri AI

Apple does not describe using HomeView without Siri AI. According to Apple, many features can also be used by touch: smart home control, camera feeds, music, FaceTime and faces such as the photo frame. Whether these work reliably with an iPhone from the EU is not documented, though.

What would be missing is the core of the device: natural conversation with Siri, answers from your messages and appointments, and getting things done in apps. According to 9to5Mac, Apple executives told The Verge that Siri AI is the reason HomeView is only launching now.

For comparison: Apple sells the HomePod mini 2 in Germany for 169 euros. According to ComputerBase it runs the existing Siri here for now; Siri AI is due later via an update, but not initially in the EU.

Alternatives available in Germany

Amazon Echo Show with Alexa+: Alexa+ has been available in Germany in Early Access since 7 May 2026, in German and free of charge. Afterwards, according to Amazon, it is included with Prime; without Prime it costs 22.99 euros a month. Buying a new Echo Show 8 or Echo Show 11 gets you straight into Early Access, according to Amazon.

Google Nest Hub with Gemini for Home: Google offers its new assistant in Germany as early access in German, including on the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. The basic features need no subscription; longer conversations with Gemini Live require Google Home Premium.

In Apple's home ecosystem: HomePod mini 2, HomePod or Apple TV act as the home hub for the Home app. That does not replace a screen, but keeps you in the system in case HomeView arrives later.

When HomeView might arrive

Apple gives no date for the EU. HomeView depends on Siri AI on the iPhone, and there is no timeline for that either. In early October 2026, heise reported, citing Bloomberg, that talks with the European Commission are barely moving and that a launch in spring 2027 would be the best case. That is a media report, not a promise from Apple.

Even then the language question remains: according to Apple, Siri AI currently only understands English, and there is no date for German. A HomeView you can talk to in German is therefore even further away than an EU launch.