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For the first time, Apple is going after Amazon’s smart home directly. On October 13 it announced HomeView, a 7-inch smart display with Siri AI, and the Apple Home Collection, a doorbell, cameras, a smart deadbolt and thermostats built with LG and Schneider Electric. HomeView ships on November 13; most of the collection starts arriving in December. If you were about to buy an Echo Show or a Ring doorbell this holiday season, here is how the two sides compare, and who should wait.
Quick verdict
- All-iPhone household: wait for HomeView and the Apple Home Collection. They are built around the iPhone, Apple Watch and iCloud.
- Android phones, or a mix: stay with Amazon. HomeView needs an iPhone or iPad for setup and personal features.
- Already have Ring cameras or Alexa routines: there is no reason to switch everything; Ring has its own new 4K cameras and its first smart lock coming.
- Want it before the holidays: Echo Show and Ring are available now. Most of Apple’s cameras and lock arrive from December, some in early 2027.
What Apple announced
- HomeView: a 7-inch square display with an A18 chip, Siri AI, a 12MP camera for FaceTime and two speakers (the tabletop version adds a woofer). It recognizes up to six household members on the device and shows each person’s calendar and messages. It also works as a home hub for HomeKit and Matter accessories, with Thread built in. Available as a tabletop model or for wall mounting. Ships November 13 in the US, UK, Canada and several other countries, not in the EU at launch.
- Video doorbell (wired), by LG: two cameras, one facing forward and one facing down for packages, with a built-in spotlight. It chimes through HomeView or a HomePod.
- Indoor, outdoor and floodlight cameras, by LG: the indoor camera can stop monitoring when the first household member comes home.
- Smart deadbolt, by LG: unlocks as you approach using ultra-wideband in your iPhone or Apple Watch, with a PIN pad and a hidden backup key slot. Matter compatible.
- Smart thermostats and room sensors, by LG and Schneider Electric: Matter compatible, with DIY installation.
- HomePod mini 2 and a new Apple TV 4K also join the lineup.
What Amazon has now
- Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5: available today, with Alexa+ and a built-in smart home hub in the Echo Show 8. Compare them in our Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 8 guide.
- Ring 4K cameras: Ring announced the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, Floodlight Cam 4K Plus and its first Indoor Cam 4K, plus a Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K with a physical privacy shutter.
- Ring Smart Lock: Ring’s first lock, with a fingerprint reader, a keypad and a hand-turned power dial to revive a dead battery. It is due in the US in early 2027. See Ring vs Apple vs Schlage smart locks.
- Ring and Blink doorbells: available now, including battery models that need no wiring. See Ring Battery Doorbell 2K vs Blink 2K+.
Side by side
| Apple HomeView + Home Collection | Amazon Echo Show + Ring | |
|---|---|---|
| Phone you need | iPhone or iPad for setup and personal features | iPhone or Android |
| Assistant | Siri AI (English only at launch) | Alexa+ (included with Prime, or a monthly fee without) |
| Smart home standard | HomeKit, Matter, Thread | Alexa, Matter, Zigbee and Thread on some Echo models |
| Doorbell | Wired only at launch | Wired and battery models |
| Camera video history | Requires an iCloud+ plan (HomeKit Secure Video), with end-to-end encryption | Requires a Ring subscription plan for recorded video |
| Smart lock | LG deadbolt, auto-unlock as you approach, backup key slot | Ring Smart Lock in early 2027, fingerprint, no key needed |
| Availability | HomeView Nov 13; most accessories from December | Most products available now |
Privacy and subscriptions
Apple’s biggest selling point is privacy: Home app data is end-to-end encrypted, and camera footage is analyzed on the home hub or in Apple’s Private Cloud Compute. Apple says there is no separate camera subscription, but saving video history still requires an iCloud+ plan, and the tier you need depends on how many cameras you have. Ring also needs a subscription to save and review recorded video. Before you choose, count your cameras and compare the yearly cost of each plan on the official sites.
Already on iCloud+? If you pay for iCloud+ for photo storage, the Apple cameras may add no extra monthly cost. If you are not, Amazon’s cheaper cameras with local storage, or eufy’s no-subscription doorbell, can work out cheaper over time: see our best video doorbells.
Should you wait for Apple?
- Wait if everyone at home uses an iPhone, you care most about privacy and you can live without a doorbell or lock until December or early 2027.
- Buy Amazon now if you have Android phones in the house, need a battery doorbell, want the system working before the holidays, or already run your home on Alexa.
- Mix carefully: Matter lets some devices work across both systems, but cameras and doorbells generally stay inside their own app.
Echo Show 8 on AmazonRing Battery Doorbell 2K on Amazon
FAQ
When does Apple HomeView come out?
Apple HomeView ships on November 13, 2026, in the US, UK, Canada and several other countries. It is not launching in the EU at first.
Does Apple HomeView work with Android?
No. Setup and personal features require an iPhone or iPad running the latest software.
When can I buy the Apple video doorbell and cameras?
Apple says the Home Collection starts arriving in December 2026, with some accessories in early 2027.
Do Apple cameras need a subscription?
Apple says there is no separate camera subscription, but video history requires an iCloud+ plan with HomeKit Secure Video.
Is HomeView better than the Echo Show?
For an all-Apple household that values privacy, HomeView is the better fit. For Android users, Alexa households or anyone who wants a display now, the Echo Show is the practical choice.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Smart Home Shields earns from qualifying purchases. Apple product details come from Apple’s announcement and may change before release. Check the official product pages before you buy.