HomeKit

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says a HomePod with display now won’t launch until the third quarter of next year. He’d initially expected it to be launched in the first half of 2024, then said it had been pushed back to the first half of 2025.

The reason for the latest delay, he says, is that software development for the new device is taking longer than expected …

When Apple announced iOS 18 in June at WWDC, the company unveiled some new features for HomeKit and the Home app – including support for vacuuming robots. However, this feature wasn’t included in the first releases of iOS 18, and Apple has now quietly confirmed that HomeKit support for robot vacuum cleaners has been postponed until 2025.

Update: Right now, you can save 28% on the Eve Outdoor Cam at Amazon.

Eve Outdoor Cam is a sleek outdoor video camera for HomeKit, with integrated LED floodlight ideally designed to light up your driveway at night. I’ve been a fan of the Eve Indoor camera for a while, and my experience with the Outdoor Cam is similarly positive. HomeKit cameras are better than ever, thanks to significant user interface upgrades to the Apple Home app in iOS 16.

And HomeKit Secure Video support means clips are saved to your iCloud account in an end-to-end encrypted manner. To make things even more compelling, this set up requires no additional monthly subscription to use, assuming you pay for some iCloud storage. So how does Eve Outdoor Cam and the state of HomeKit Secure Video fare? Very well, for the most part …

HomePass is a must-have app for HomeKit and Matter users, making it easy to keep track of all your accessories. This week, developer Aaron Pearce has unveiled HomePass 2, a complete rewrite of the app that adds several excellent new features for HomeKit enthusiasts.

The premise of HomePass, available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is that it gives you a central location to store your HomeKit accessory setup codes. This new version further upgrades that experience.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expressed concern over lack of manufacturer commitment to software updates for smart devices, citing the risk that security flaws won’t be fixed, or that products will cease to function altogether.

This echoes concerns we’ve been raising for the past couple of years about us never really owning the smart products we buy …

Philips Hue bulbs are one of the easiest ways to give your existing light fixtures smart home capabilities, including through Apple’s HomeKit platform. The problem with Philips Hue bulbs, however, is that whenever a wall light switch is flipped off, the smart lights become unresponsive.

The Lutron Aurora dimmer is a simple yet ingenious way to solve this problem, and it should be at the top of every smart home fan’s holiday wish list.

Plus, they are currently on sale for 20% off on Amazon…

Today, Kwikset has announced the release of Halo Select, a new smart door lock designed with built-in Wi-Fi and Matter (and therefore includes HomeKit) support. This lock allows for easy smart home integration without needing a hub or getting locked in. You can control the lock via the Kwikset app, enabling remote access, locking/unlocking, and granting entry to guests through unique codes or in-app, with real-time notifications to track activity. You can also control it once you integrate it with your smart home platform.

Level has long been known for its unique “invisible” design philosophy, creating smart home locks that blend seamlessly into your home while delivering robust security with deep Apple integration on the software side. Today, Level announced the new Level Lock+ with Matter. This updated model introduces support for Apple Home Key, Bluetooth compatibility, and Matter support in a single product, making it compatible with HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. If you’re an existing Level Lock+ customer, read on for details on how to get the limited-time free Matter firmware upgrade.

Earlier this week Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that we’ll see an Apple smart home camera in 2026, with the company confident it will prove to be a popular accessory, selling in the tens of millions per year.

Given Apple’s habit of minimizing the number of products it makes, if the report is accurate the company must feel there’s good reason to enter a crowded product category, and I think an Apple camera will likely differentiate itself in two ways: privacy, and Apple Intelligence …

Apple has a new home device launching early next year, as detailed in an extensive Mark Gurman report. And this as-yet-unnamed ‘HomePad’ sounds like exactly what I want in a smart home product.

A Bloomberg report yesterday suggested that Apple is working on a wall-mounted smart display panel to act as “a command center for the home” – and that it could launch as early as March of next year.

I effectively trialled this concept back in 2019, wall-mounting an old iPad Air to serve as a dedicated smart home control panel, and reactions to that were enough to convince me that the upcoming new product is likely to be a winner …

Apple is aiming to release its first Apple Intelligence-powered smart home device as early as March, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The product will take the form of “a wall-mounted display” that resembles a traditional home security panel.

Apple’s hope is that it will serve as a “command center for the home” with a combination of Apple apps, Apple Intelligence, and integration with HomeKit.

If you’re deep into HomeKit like me, you know how convenient it can be for home automation. One of the most exciting smart home security additions for me in the past few years is Home Key from Apple, which lets you unlock your door using just your iPhone or Apple Watch. There is no need for apps or Bluetooth connection—tap your device, and you’re in.

In this blog, I will break down the top HomeKit-compatible locks with Home Key support, highlighting what makes them stand out and why they should be at the top of your smart home wishlist for Christmas.

One of my favorite HomeKit features is HomeKit Secure Video, which lets me view and manage security camera recordings right in the Home app. There are a number of different cameras on the market that support this feature, and here are my favorites as someone who’s tested a lot of HomeKit accessories over the years.

A report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that Apple’s upcoming smart home display might bear more than a passing resemblance to one of the most iconic Macintosh models, the iMac G4.

This is something I suggested might happen back in the summer, though personally I was hoping for a magnetic attachment for an iPad …

Upgrading your HomeKit lifestyle with a smart garage door is one of the best changes you can make. For a long time, MyQ was an easy recommendation for people looking to easily turn their existing garage door into a HomeKit garage door. Chamberlin, the company behind the MyQ platform, discontinued its HomeKit accessory last year and recently even further cracked down on access to the MyQ platform.

Thankfully, there are other ways to bring HomeKit capability to your garage door without too much work. Here are some of my favorites…

After years of treating smart home products like a hobby, Apple is reportedly ready to kickstart an aggressive market push. There are new home devices and a fresh strategy on the way, with Apple Intelligence at the center. Here’s what’s coming in 2025 and beyond.

Of all the smart home products I’ve tried over the years, one stands out as making the biggest impact in my life day to day while also giving me the type of automation that was only available in the movies previously. I am talking about Matter-enabled window shades, and I just installed a new set in my bathroom, and it’s been incredible. This week, I am looking at the Canisteo Motorized Woven Woods window shades.

Aqara has officially announced the release of its latest innovation in home security: the Smart Lock U300. This new smart lever lock is the third in Aqara’s lineup to support Apple Home Key. It also includes support for Thread and Matter, so it works perfectly across all smart home ecosystems. Read on to learn more about the Aqara U300 and how to save 20% off.

Anker has launched its latest premium outdoor security device with the eufyCam S3 Pro. The new camera features a crisp 4K resolution, HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video support, “nighttime that’s bright as day,” an integrated solar power system, and more.