Apple's awesome-sounding smart speaker has Siri mainly to control Apple Music, but the HomePod is also a hands-free way to command your HomeKit devices, and it can act as a HomeKit hub when you're away from your home network. Even if you don’t have a HomePod, chances are you’ll always have a Siri device nearby. Support is better than with Samsung SmartThings, however, with more big names supporting Apple’s system. Since launching in 2014, HomeKit has been distinguished by a focus on security that has appealed to savvy consumers. In this way, you can make the Hue switch do other actions, such as turning up your heating or triggering a scene. And setting up automations—preset actions that involve one or more devices—is satisfyingly straightforward, requiring only a few taps in Apple’s Home app, which comes preinstalled on iOS devices. Of course, you can ask Siri to lock and unlock the door for you too. That means you may run into delays or total failure when controlling them. As a central hub for Apple HomeKit, you'll need either an always-on iPad (that is always left at home) or an Apple TV. This addition enables remote notifications as well as control of HomeKit devices when you’re away from home. Below you'll find the best devices we've tested that work with Apple HomeKit. Both iOS and macOS Home apps are laid out in a similar way, so it’s easy to jump between the two. Rachio’s smart sprinkler, the easiest model we tested, allows you to call up a quick shower for shrubs using HomeKit and Siri voice commands. Powerful and simple automation complete the system and, for Apple users with the right kit, Home and HomeKit prove to be a winner. The Apple TV had a software update at one stage and I had to reconnect everything again which was a nightmare. Once you add a device to your HomeKit home, the Home app takes you to a screen where you have the option to rename the device and to assign it to a room (a preset room or one you’ve created). (The Home app requires you to unlock your phone for access, unless you’re using an Apple Watch; the MyQ app can protect access by PIN, Touch ID, or Face ID.). However, if you have a 1080p HDTV and no plans to upgrade anytime soon, opting for the older Apple TV (4th generation) model will save you some money. His work has been featured in various print and online publications, and on television. Learn more. The Home app displays a status rundown of important updates—an unlocked door, or a failure to reach a device—along with a grid of your Favorite devices. The Onelink Safe & Sound detects smoke and carbon monoxide and can alert you on your mobile device in case of emergency. However, you can also run Scenes if you’ve got a pre-defined one that would do the same job. Save yourself a few bucks and opt for the Onelink Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm, which keeps the HomeKit compatibility but ditches the smart speaker. Just screw this into the light bulb socket of a lamp or light fixture, and then screw in a regular or dimmable light bulb, and control it with HomeKit or Amazon Alexa. As such, it’s neat to have everything in one place, but you’ll still need the manufacturer’s app for control and recording. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, HomeKit allows you to integrate smart-home devices from different manufacturers into one system. That didn't work and I get the same connection issues. Apple Home and HomeKit have evolved and now form the basis of a powerful home automation system although wider device support would be nice. In homes of even modest size, this problem can make it difficult to place devices where you want them, and some people may need multiple Apple TVs or iPads peppered around their home in order to get everything to function properly. iHome's iSP6X smart plug supports HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, Wink, SmartThings, and Nest, and its slim design lets you stack two of them in a regular power outlet. There are some notable big exceptions, such as the lack of support for the Nest Learning Thermostat (or any other Nest product), and the majority of smart appliances, such as the Dyson 360 Eye robot vacuum cleaner. It made sense to me to go with Apple as my wife and I have iPhones and iPads.Unfortunately once you're committed to the Apple brand you are faced with a very limited (and expensive) range of compatible products due to their strict security code. HomeKit thermostats, fans, and air conditioners are the bee’s knees because if you’re ever too hot or too cold, you can just whine to Siri about it. Elgato's Eve Energy smart plug and Eve Light Switch support HomeKit, and can be combined with Eve Door & Window sensors, Eve Motion sensors, and Eve Indoor temperature and air quality sensors. Apple's awesome-sounding smart speaker has Siri mainly to control Apple Music, but the HomePod is also a hands-free way to command your HomeKit devices, and it can act as a HomeKit hub when you're away from your home network. The starter kit comes with a bridge and a button, and you can buy extra buttons if you need them. For smart devices that don’t use a bridge, such as LIFX bulbs, each device has to be added independently, which is a bit of a pain. It’s also a top-notch 4K video streamer. For example, we set one up to turn on a light if it’s triggered, but only when no one is home. This lock has no keyhole at all—just a touchscreen. Two-factor authentication is a security ritual that forces you to get a code on one trusted device (say, your iPhone) whenever you sign in to your Apple ID on another device (say, your computer). At the time, it was the first mesh router system to support the Apple smart home platform but it isn't clear yet if the Eero 6 will be HomeKit routers. You can unlock the door with your keycode, with an app, or by asking Siri. Well, the Apple Watch puts Siri right on your arm, so you can command your home by muttering into your wrist. You don't have to use the same types of products from the same company, either—HomeKit can turn on lights from Philips Hue, LiFX, and Sylvania all at the same time. In the case of replacing your existing wall switches, Lutron is the only smart dimmer that doesn’t require a neutral wire, making it easier to install in older homes. Apple’s HomeKit smart-home platform is a friendly and functional option for anyone who owns an iPhone or iPad and wants to create a DIY smart-home system. It would be nice if there were some cheaper, smaller speakers in the same vein as the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Home Mini, as the HomePod is far too expensive to put into every room in your home. Companies can't alter or remove reviews from ProductReview.com.au. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. Without this code, you can’t add any devices, so don’t lose it. So an automation to have a screeching smoke detector trigger a set of Hue lights to turn bright red, if the alarm sounds after 9 pm, will be possible only if you have all the required accessories installed. For example, I set up an Elgato Eve Motion motion sensor to turn on (by activating a Lutron Caséta dimmer) our living room’s overhead lights to 50 percent brightness if the sensor detects activity when neither I nor my wife are home—but only between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Nevertheless, it's one of the few detectors that can survive a real flood. It also connects to your home’s Wi-Fi (it doesn’t need a hub, unlike many other bulbs) and is affordable, so putting one in your living room and one in your bedroom won’t break the bank. In the Automation screen, you just tap the initial trigger: someone arriving home or leaving, the time of day, an accessory being triggered, or a sensor detecting something. When you first open the app you’re prompted to create a name for your HomeKit network, or accept the default named Home. If you’re ready to explore what Apple HomeKit has to offer, we’ve selected our top picks from the most popular and useful categories of smart-home devices. The speaker itself sounds phenomenal, but otherwise don’t expect a HomePod to revolutionize your HomeKit experience just yet. Arguably, the HomePod makes things easier, as it’s always listening and gives you smart speaker control in the same way as, say, an Echo smart speaker. We explain, and tell you how you can control your smart-home devices with Siri and your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. You can do all of this and more with the Apple HomeKit products mentioned below. Ecobee’s newest model comes with a new remote sensor, a better touchscreen, and an improved speaker, and it works with most smart-home platforms, including HomeKit and Alexa. None of them work perfectly. Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit. That’s an improvement over times of old, where you had to set up devices through the Home app only. For devices that you can control, the options differ by device type. This way I could have it directly wired to the router with a Cat 6 network cable and my network would be more stable.

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