iOS 18 is coming this fall with improvements to Apple Home. It’s a minor update with some welcome changes, like robot vacuums and improved guest access. Home Electricity is initially only available in the US at launch, but it’s a key feature for the future of the smart home.
I’m a big fan of Apple Home. My house has over 100 HomeKit accessories that control lights, blinds, locks, thermostats, and more. Of all the announcements Apple made at WWDC 2024, I’m most excited about the changes planned for HomeKit. Not every year is an update extravaganza, but this year promises a few notable improvements, including one I've been eagerly awaiting.
Here’s everything coming to HomeKit with iOS and iPadOS 18 this fall.
My 10 favorite iOS 18 features in Apple's new public beta
Despite Apple Intelligence stealing the show at WWDC 2024, the first public beta of Apple iOS 18 includes several great new features.
Home Key has been a feature in Apple Home for a while now. Home Key-compatible locks allow iPhone and Apple Watch users to enter their home with just a wave of their device. Home Key works similarly to Apple Pay, but changes the lock state of your door. I'm a big fan of Home Key. So much so that I have a compatible lock on every external door in my house.
New to iOS 18 is 'Express Mode'. Don't be fooled by the name - this isn't the same feature that helps people get on public transit faster. No, Express Mode in HomeKit makes compatible Ultra Wideband (UWB) door locks unlock as you approach your door, instead of requiring you to show your iPhone or Apple Watch. As far as we know, no locks currently sold support UWB. But rest assured, I'll be buying one or two as soon as they're available.
How to Turn Your Old Tablet Into a Smart Home Display Hub for Free
If you've got a few minutes to spare, you can repurpose your old tablet and make it the centerpiece of your smart home.
A Much-Needed Upgrade
Apple Home already includes guest access for keypad-based door locks. When you're having a guest, you can create a user, assign them an access code, and toggle which doors they can unlock with their code. However, many other smart lock apps include guest modes with scheduled or time-limited access. Finally, Apple is bringing a similar feature to HomeKit.
In iOS 18, when you add a guest, you can set a schedule for when they can access your home, as well as select which accessories they can and can't use. Customizable guest access means you can get incredibly granular with specific access times for a dog walker or housekeeper, and restricted access to accessories for guests who come to visit.
How to automate your smart home with just a Raspberry Pi
With a little time and a DIY attitude, a single Raspberry Pi board is powerful enough to run your entire smart home.
A key component for the future of home automation
Initially only available to Pacific Gas and Electricity users in the US, Home Electricity allows users to monitor their home's electricity usage within the Home app. Users will see breakdowns by day, week, month, half-year, and year, along with a percentage change. You'll also see the percentage of electricity used during peak and off-peak times.
Saving on electricity usage can be a significant benefit of having a smart home, so Apple bundling it into its popular home automation ecosystem is a welcome addition. While home electricity won't be available to me at launch, I'm excited to start using it when it is by creating new automations. Now I'm hoping Apple and Tesla will let me add my Power Walls to HomeKit.
Philips Made a Smart Lock You Can Open with Your Palm
Philips is launching three different smart locks with cutting-edge tech.
Troubleshooting Just Got a Lot Easier
The ability to set up your preferred Home Hub is finally coming to iOS 18. In classic Apple style, the company has never given users the option to set whether their Home Hub should be a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV, opting instead for the auto-magic approach. The challenge some users faced was trying to resolve connectivity and reliability issues by unplugging hubs and using workarounds.
Thankfully, those problems are coming to an end soon, allowing us to select our preferred Home Hub based on our knowledge of our home and network.
I can't wait for this
While having my favourite Home Hub is cool, it plays second fiddle to my favourite addition to Apple Home this autumn: robot vacuums! For the longest time, I hadn't owned a robot vacuum due to the lack of HomeKit support for them. That was until my girlfriend moved in and took hers with her. I had no idea how great robot vacuums would be.
As soon as a HomeKit-compatible robot becomes available, either specifically for HomeKit or via the Matter smart home standard, I will buy one regardless of the price and automate it with my other HomeKit accessories. Maybe I just like new accessory categories because they give me an excuse to buy new stuff? Who knows.
What is Homey, the smart home platform LG just acquired?
Things could change, but for now, it's an alternative to the big three platforms.
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