When Apple announced the HomeKit Secure Routers feature back in 2019, it held significant promise. The objective was to integrate HomeKit with network routers and mesh systems, adding an additional layer of security and privacy. This integration was designed to simplify the process of configuring routers, ensuring seamless operation, especially when using HomeKit-enabled accessories. The promised ease of management through the Home app was a key selling point; however, router support has been disappointingly slow to materialize. As anticipated, this feature never reached the budget models typically provided by ISPs. Now, it appears that it likely never will.
Apple is no stranger to abandoning features and services — Ping, we hardly knew ye — and it seems to be withdrawing from the HomeKit Secure Routers effort as well. Unlike the more popular HomeKit Secure Video, this feature requires explicit approval from Apple for companies to add support. These companies must apply for inclusion, but according to a recent report, Apple is currently not accepting new routers into the program, with no indication of when, or if, this might change.
As it stands, the HomeKit Secure Routers available on the market today may well be the last of their kind. Two router vendors have reported failed attempts to gain Apple's approval to join the HomeKit Secure Router program, signaling a halt in the acceptance of new additions. The future for those who already own these devices remains uncertain.
Abandoned?
Although the identity of the two router vendors remains unknown, Homekit.Blog reports that during CES 2024, these vendors confirmed that Apple is no longer accepting new routers into its program.
"During CES 2024, two router vendors separately told Homekit.Blog that Apple is no longer accepting new routers into its program," the report explains. "If that claim is accurate — which seems likely given the consistency from both rejected manufacturers — it appears that Apple has ceased support for HomeKit Secure Routers due to the scarcity of options on the market."
It’s important to note that Apple has yet to make an official statement regarding the status of the program, or whether new vendors can join. However, the signs are not promising given the current information. Notably, Apple's website only lists two compatible routers: one from Amplifi and another from Linksys.
The reasons behind Apple's potential abandonment of HomeKit Secure Routers are speculative. It was always somewhat unlikely that router manufacturers would readily cede control over their device management to the Home app. In recent years, companies like Linksys have heavily promoted their own apps, emphasizing ease of setup, configuration, and management of complex mesh Wi-Fi systems. With the advent of AI features, a manufacturer's own app becomes even more critical.
Ultimately, if Apple is indeed phasing out its vision for HomeKit Secure Routers, it would be more transparent to officially discontinue it rather than letting it fade away. An alternative could be for Apple to introduce its own router, but given that the AirPort was discontinued years ago, this seems unlikely if it wasn't already in the pipeline.
