Apple has concluded a four-year wait by introducing new home products, including an updated Apple TV 4K. The new Apple TV 4K will feature a significantly increased price, starting from $299 (equivalent to R4,934), indicating a higher cost in South Africa.
During the 'Welcome Home' event, the company announced several updates to key products, as well as a completely new smart home control center called HomeView.
Despite the rich assortment of new hardware, the main event was the Apple TV 4K, which had not been technically updated for a very long time. Visually, the new streaming box will retain its familiar compact design, but users can expect a significant improvement in under-the-hood performance.
Apple TV 4K meets expectations
The new Apple TV 4K is equipped with the powerful A19 chip, the same silicon introduced in the iPhone 17 lineup last year. In addition to a substantial boost in performance, the base storage capacity has been increased to 128 GB.
Alongside the streaming device, Apple debuted a smart home display—HomeView—which differs from the company's traditional line of standalone speakers. According to leaks, the device will feature a 5.73-inch square display mounted on a metal arm and based on a round stand, clearly referencing the iconic early 2000s iMac G4 design.
HomeView is positioned as the central command hub for the Apple ecosystem, unifying Apple TV, MacBook, HomePod, and compatible smart devices such as security cameras and doorbells. Deep integration with next-generation Siri AI will make voice control the primary method of controlling connected spaces. Apple promotes HomeView as a multi-room device, encouraging customers to place it throughout their living space. The price starts at $300, which is approximately R4,951 in South Africa before local taxes, duties, and retail markups.
An updated HomePod mini 2 model was also released at a price of $149 (R2,458 before import), offering faster Wi-Fi performance and enhanced Siri AI features designed for seamless operation within the new HomePad ecosystem.