Comparison · Hubs & platforms
Apple HomeView vs Echo Show 11 vs Nest Hub: which smart display to buy
Apple’s $299 HomeView ships November 13. Here’s how it stacks up against Amazon’s Alexa+ Echo Show 11 and Google’s aging Nest Hub.
Our pick: HomeView for Apple households; Echo Show 11 for Alexa homes that want a built-in Zigbee hub; skip the Nest Hub until Google refreshes it
Apple HomeView vs Echo Show 11 vs Nest Hub is the smart display question of late 2026. Apple’s first smart display, the $299 HomeView, ships November 13 with Siri AI. Amazon’s Echo Show 11 is built around Alexa+, and Google’s Nest Hub is a 2021 design waiting for a Gemini-era replacement.
| Apple HomeView | Amazon Echo Show 11 | Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $219.99 | ~$99 (often less) |
| Release | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 2025 | 2021 |
| Display | 7-in Liquid Retina, 500 to 0.3 nits | 11-in touchscreen | 7-in |
| Chip | Apple A18 | Amazon AZ3 Pro | — |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage (FaceTime) | 13MP | None |
| Assistant | Siri AI | Alexa+ (free with Prime) | Gemini for Home (Premium for full features) |
| Smart home radios | Thread, Matter (Apple Home hub) | Zigbee, Matter, Thread hub | Thread border router, Matter |
| Notable | Face ID for 6 users, 9 camera feeds, smoke/CO alarm detection | Omnisense presence sensing | Soli sleep sensing |
| Mounting | Countertop speaker base or wall mount (separate) | Countertop | Countertop |
Apple HomeView: the Apple Home hub, finally
HomeView is a 7-inch display on a speaker base with a woofer and two passive radiators. It also wall-mounts with a separate Schneider mount. Its standout features are household awareness: it recognizes up to six people and shows each their own Home Screen, displays nine camera feeds at once, and alerts you when it hears a smoke or CO alarm. Siri AI handles general questions on its own and taps personal context when an Apple Intelligence iPhone is nearby.
Echo Show 11: Alexa+ with a real hub
The Echo Show 11 is the best display for running a mixed-device home. It has built-in Zigbee, Matter, and Thread radios, Omnisense sensing (camera, ultrasound, Wi-Fi radar) for presence-based routines, and Alexa+ free with Prime. If Alexa+ isn’t for you, see how to turn it off.
Nest Hub: wait or buy cheap
The Nest Hub (2nd gen) is still a capable Thread border router and kitchen display, and it gets Gemini for Home. But it’s a 2021 design with no camera, and reviewers have called 2026 a “make-or-break year” for Google’s display lineup. Buy one only on deep discount.
Which smart display should you buy?
- iPhone household with Apple Home accessories: HomeView.
- Alexa household, Zigbee devices, or want the biggest screen: Echo Show 11.
- Google household on a budget: discounted Nest Hub, or a Google Home Speaker instead.
We’ll publish a full HomeView review after it ships on November 13. Specs here come from Apple’s, Amazon’s, and Google’s announcements.
Questions we get
When does Apple HomeView come out?
Apple announced HomeView on October 13, 2026 for $299. It goes on sale November 13, 2026 in the US. It is not sold in the European Union.
What can Apple HomeView do?
It has a 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Siri AI. It can recognize up to six household members by face, each with their own Home Screen, and show up to nine camera feeds at once. It listens for smoke and CO alarms, makes FaceTime calls with a 12MP Center Stage camera, and runs your Apple Home as a hub.
Is the Echo Show 11 worth it?
For Alexa homes, yes. It runs Alexa+ on Amazon’s AZ3 Pro chip, has a 13MP camera and Omnisense presence sensors, and doubles as a Zigbee, Matter, and Thread hub, for $219.99.
Is Google making a new Nest Hub?
Google hasn’t announced a new display. The current Nest Hub (2nd gen) dates from 2021, and Google launched the Google Home Speaker in 2026 instead. If you want a Google display, buy on sale or wait.