HomeKit Blog

Additional equipment

Protecting your home with HomeKit and a HomePod is easy if you have the right equipment. Want to cover a large area with a single device? Then a motion sensor is probably the best bet. These handy aids are easy, set and forget about the solution to cover areas such as living rooms. Do you have to cover more rooms? Then a contact sensor is the way to go. Contact sensors attach to your doors and windows, which allows you to know when to open.

Of course, you will also need an Apple Music subscription to select sounds that will keep your intruders from touching. There are tons of sounds available, including horns, buzzing, sirens and even barking dogs, all just at a tap.

Apple Music subscription
(Starting at $ 4.99 per month)

An Apple Music subscription is essential to the fully blown HomePod experience. In addition to the massive library of songs, Apple Music also hosts tons of sound effects perfect for use as a security alarm.

Eve Door & Window
($ 40 on Amazon)

Eve Door & Window is a tiny two-piece accessory that attaches directly to an entry point and uses Bluetooth to transmit whether it is open or not. This sensor talks to HomeKit, allowing you to use it in automations like this to alarm.

Philips Hue Motion
($ 40 on Amazon)

If you want the fastest HomeKit motion sensor with the fastest response, then look no further then Philips Hue Motion. This sensor works with HomeKit to provide instant notifications and, most importantly, to turn on security automations.

The mesh network is a great way to cover your home in fast and reliable Wi-Fi, and eero is synonymous with this technology. eero offers a lot of options to meet most needs through standard and pro models, in addition, all are interchangeable and work with connectable beacons for a larger range. If you need the basics, then go with the standard eero system, which is not only cheaper, but also supports all the same features and security of the application as Pro. If you have a high speed internet connection and can afford to press, then go with Pro.

Standard vs. pro

Source: eero

Despite its "pro" moniker, the more expensive system is almost identical to the standard eero system. Each package includes three eero nodes, which are placed at different points around your home, both carrying two Ethernet ports around the back. This allows them to cover every corner of your home and offers wired options in several places. Configuration for both models follows the same process through the eero application and can be up and running within minutes.

Unless you absolutely need extra tri-band radio, then we recommend going for the entry-level system.

All eero models work just as well in the eero application. All your devices will see in a clean, easy-to-understand interface, complete with customizable names and icons that represent the type of gear connected. Guest access, device lock and automatic updates are standard, but more advanced features like ad blocking and filtering require a Secure eero subscription. eero Secure allows family profiles from where you can block access based on the time of day, and you can interrupt all household members' devices with just a tap. Also, a subscription gives you access to ad blocking, secure filters, threat scanning and even free applications, depending on the level of service you subscribe to. And yes, it works on both devices,

There are a few key differences to consider, the price and the number of radios inside. The basic eero system is $ 250 less than the Pro, which is a serious change for one major difference: an additional radio. However, this extra radio can be useful for larger homeowners or for those who really need high speed internet connections. If you want to get a standard eero, you can save a little extra money, but keep your internet speed to their full potential.

As you can see, both eero and eero Pro have a fairly similar set of features. The biggest difference is that the less expensive eero uses two lanes for all your communication and network traffic. This limits its speed to 550 Mbps and its coverage to 5,000 square meters. The internal specifications for the two models are exactly the same in terms of CPU, RAM and storage.

Unless you absolutely need extra tri-band radio, then we recommend going for the entry-level system. Not only will you save a lot of money up front, you can always add a tri-band node to the road if you need to. Additional features such as Apple's HomeKit and Amazon Alexa control are available for both versions and both sports have the same number of Ethernet ports, so you really only pay extra for that extra radio.

We may earn a commission on purchases using our links. Find out more.