Apple HomeView and Amazon Echo Show 16 Offer Upgraded Smart Displays
Apple and Amazon have introduced new smart displays featuring higher-end hardware and shared-screen capabilities, though both come at a premium price.
Apple and Amazon unveiled new smart displays this month that aim to address long-standing limitations of the category. The HomeView, priced at $299, uses Apple’s A18 processor and a Liquid Retina screen, while the Echo Show 16, costing $499.99, incorporates a MediaTek processor and a Nanomatte display similar to Amazon’s Alexa Tablet. Both devices are positioned as shared household screens for tasks such as checking calendars, monitoring doorbell cameras, and controlling smart-home functions.
The upgrades focus on delivering computer-class hardware and always-on displays that can switch between users without requiring PIN entry or a screensaver. Apple’s approach integrates the device with the iPhone, offering personalized features that activate when the user’s face is recognized and the phone is nearby. Amazon’s design emphasizes household-wide functionality, using Omnisense sensors to detect presence and providing broader features like meal planning, a full Fire TV interface, and a color-coded family calendar.
While the hardware improvements represent a notable step forward, the pricing remains substantially higher than earlier models such as the Echo Show 5 ($85) and Nest Hub ($99). Analysts note that the higher cost may limit adoption to users already invested in each company’s ecosystem.
"Siri AI knew exactly when your friend would arrive at the front door from the airport based on reading your text messages and could turn on the coffee machine so their espresso was ready the moment they walked in," the article notes about Apple’s demo.
"When someone walks up your driveway, a figure appears on a map of your home, and you can tap it to see a live view of their approach through your Ring camera," the article describes an Amazon demonstration.
Both companies aim to make the smart display a central hub for managing household information and connected-home devices, but market response will likely depend on whether consumers find the added capabilities worth the premium price.