Apple is preparing to launch a new home control hub, directly competing with the Amazon Echo Show
Amazon today announced the launch of two new Echo Show devices, both with large screens. The Echo Show 15 has a 15-inch screen and replaces the original Echo Show 15, while the even larger Echo Show 21 has a 21-inch screen. For those unfamiliar with the Echo Show, it is Amazon’s smart home control device, used to manage smart home products.
According to Amazon, the Echo Show 21 has nearly twice the viewing area of the Echo Show 15. Like other Echo Show products, it can be used for video calls, watching videos, checking the news, managing family calendars, controlling smart home products, viewing photos and more.
The Amazon Echo Show is compatible with Matter as a controller and can connect directly to Wi-Fi, Thread and Zigbee devices. Amazon’s personal assistant, Alexa, is included for voice-based smart home controls.
Apple has been developing various Echo Show-style devices for some time and plans to offer a competing product next year. Apple’s smart home control hub is expected to offer many of the same features as the Echo Show.
It will include a camera for FaceTime, as well as control of HomeKit and Matter devices. Built-in speakers will allow music playback, and it will have Apple apps such as Calendar, Photos, Apple News, Apple Music and Notes. However, the device will not be as large as Amazon’s Echo Show, with Apple planning a six-inch square screen.
Apple’s future smart home device will have built-in Siri support with Apple Intelligence and a customisable home screen with widgets that can display things like the weather, upcoming appointments and important home controls. Built-in sensors may detect when someone is nearby, and Apple plans to offer wall-mount and desktop solutions. Multiple hubs could also be used throughout the home as intercoms.
It is not clear how Apple plans to price the home hub, but Amazon’s Echo Show 15 costs $300, and the Echo Show 21 costs $400. Smaller versions start at $90.
With Apple’s planned home hub launch, competition in the smart home device market is set to intensify further. How will consumers respond to these increasingly sophisticated options? The future of smart home control looks promising and full of exciting possibilities.
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Source: Juli Clover
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