HomeKit is Apple's attempt to bring all your smart devices together into a single connected ecosystem. In Apple's vision of the home of the future your smart door-lock will talk to your smart lights, and your smart thermostat will be able to work seamlessly with your smart ceiling fan.
Since iOS 10, Apple has allowed you to control all your HomeKit-supported devices through a single app, and the ecosystem of products it supports is rapidly growing.
Of course any smart home ecosystem is only as good as the devices that support it, so without further ado, here's our pick of the most interesting gear that currently works (or plans to work) with HomeKit.
HomeKit Smart speakers
Smart speakers are the element of the smart home that seem to be getting the fastest integration into people's everyday lives, and are often the element that unifies a smart home, allowing you to talk to your digital assistant and request a light dimmed, a radiator heated or a door locked.
HomeKit thermostats
Smart internet connected thermostats were one of the first areas in which the connected home began to take hold, but unfortunately the market leader, Nest, has not announced HomeKit support.
Whether this will arrive at a later date, or whether Google's ownership of the company will prevent it permanently is unclear, but thankfully there are a number of other HomeKit enabled thermostats that are still very much worth your consideration.
Other thermostats worth considering
- Netatmo (opens in new tab) - UK exclusive
- Elgato Eve Thermo (opens in new tab) - connected radiator valve
- iDevices Thermostat (opens in new tab) - US exclusive
HomeKit light bulbs
With the ability to change color, turn on and off with a pre-planned schedule, and even dim to suit your mood, smart lightbulbs are an essential part of any self-respecting smart home setup.
There's something immensely satisfying about turning your lights off with your voice, you can use them as a burglary deterrent by having them come on while you're away, and you get the added benefit of never having to worry if you've left a light on.
There are quite a number of smart lightbulbs on the market now, with more getting added to the list of HomeKit connected products regularly. Below are just a few of the ones that we think it's worth you knowing about.
Just make sure that you buy the correct light fitting for your region.
Other bulbs to consider / coming soon:
- iDevices Socket (opens in new tab) - converts your light fittings to 'smart' fittings so you can still use standard bulbs
- Lifx (opens in new tab) - one of the most reliable innovators in the field, the bulbs also integrate with other smart home ecosystems
- C-sleep (opens in new tab) - provides different types of light at night and in the morning to compliment your sleep cycle
HomeKit switches
If you want to make your lighting smart without changing all of your bulbs, you can change your light switches for smart switches, and then control your lights from your phone, or with your voice.
What's more, because all of your devices are connected using HomeKit, you can program your switches so they control far more than just your lights.
Other smart switches to consider / coming soon:
- iDevices Wall Switch (opens in new tab) – US only
- Leviton Decora (opens in new tab) – US only
