Smart home devices have exploded in recent years, thanks in part to the likes of Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. But some folks forget that Apple was one of the first on the scene with a smart assistant on your phone thanks to Siri. The difference here is that with Siri and Apple HomeKit, you can have all of your smart home devices interlinked and controlled right from your iPhone, iPad, or even the Mac.
For a little while, HomeKit accessories were pretty scarce, but we’ve seen a massive uptick in options over the course of just the last year. Some of this has to do with the lower price of the HomePod Mini, making it easier to put Siri in every room of your home. Today, we’re going to take a look at the best HomeKit devices and accessories that you should be considering.
The HomePod Mini is one interesting device, as this $99 smart speaker offers fantastic sound quality while putting Siri everywhere in the home. Considering that the original HomePod has been discontinued, this is really the only Siri smart speaker available and it can act as your smart home hub. Plus, a recent update introduced a few new colors as Apple gets more “hip” and has stopped only offering variants of black and white.
Sonos speakers are simply some of the best in the business, regardless of what smart home platform you are using. With the Sonos One, you’re getting the company’s flagship speaker, and it can be paired with your iPhone to access Siri when your hands are full, or if you just need to turn on the lights.
While we are getting more and more devices that have smart home capabilities, there are still even more that aren’t that “smart”. But that doesn’t mean you have to be left in the dark and won’t be able to connect them with HomeKit. With the likes of the Belkin WeMo smart plug, you just set up the plug on your iPhone or iPad, plug in your lamp or another device, and then turn it on or off with the plug.
Belkin’s WeMo is our favorite pick, but it might be a bit pricy for some. And although it’s been slimmed down over the years, nothing comes close to the Meross Smart Plug Mini. You’ll get the same great HomeKit compatibility, all in a much thinner and more compact form factor.
Few things can make you realize the power of HomeKit than having some smart lights scattered around your home. For years, the Philips Hue lineup of products has been the industry leader in the HomeKit space. The competition is finally beginning to get a bit more fierce, but in our opinion, it doesn’t get much better than Hue.
Nanoleaf got its start with those awesome triangular light panels that can be changed to different colors and can set the mood for the room. But since then, the company has exploded in popularity and in response, has started offering a slew of fantastic smart home lighting options.
The new Apple TV 4K is an absolutely incredible streaming device, and as you would expect, it works perfectly with HomeKit. The new-and-improved Siri remote is absolutely incredible, and you’ll still get access to all of your favorite streaming services, along with the surprisingly-impressive Apple TV+.
While we’re primarily focusing on HomeKit devices, there really aren’t many other streaming dongles or boxes that can be used with HomeKit. Because of that reason, if you’re looking for an alternative to the Apple TV 4K, we would recommend the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. This little dongle plugs right into the HDMI port on your TV and still offers access to Apple TV+.
With the Arlo Pro 4, you’re getting a wire-free security camera system and you don’t even need a dedicated hub to get things up and running. Video is recorded in up to 2K resolution and with Color Night Vision, you’ll be able to see whether the cat knocked something over in the kitchen, or if you need to get out of bed.
There are quite a few different options out there when it comes to smart security camera systems, but many of them are pretty expensive. That’s not a problem thanks to the EufyCam 2C, which includes two cameras that can be used indoors or outdoors, along with offering Night Vision and up to 180-days of battery life.
If you’ve ever needed to get in the house but your hands are full and nobody else is home, you know how frustrating it can be to have to set everything down. With the August Smart Lock Pro, you won’t need to try and reach for your keys as you can just unlock your door right from your phone.
Instead of the traditional deadbolt option that we see in many smart home locks, the Yale Assure Lock SL takes a different approach, offering a digital keypad on the front. You can create unique pin codes for yourself, friends, and family, giving everyone a unique key if they need to get in the house. And you can even go so far as to create daily schedules to ensure that your door is locked at the same times every day.
Ecobee has exploded in popularity in recent years and for good reason. The company’s SmartThermostat is simply awesome and gives you all of the controls that you could want from a thermostat, and then some. Along with support for HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, you’ll be able to save up to 26% annually on your heating and cooling costs with this thermostat.
With the Honeywell Home T5 Plus, you’re getting a smart thermostat that looks more similar to that of your traditional thermostats. Some smart thermostats require an extra C wire for necessary power, but it’s not common to actually find that in some homes. Honeywell offers its own solution and includes the ability to get everything set up without feeling the need to pull your hair out.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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