If you're trying to decide between Google Home or Apple Home for your smart home system, we've researched and compared the two platforms to help you decide which smart home system is best for your home.
See also: What is a smart home?
What is Apple Homekit?
Apple Home, also known as the Apple Homekit, is Apple's smart home control system that gives you control over your smart thermostat, lights, locks and more with your Apple smartphone. HomeKit is an excellent starting point for Apple fans who are starting their smart journey home.
What can Apple Homekit do?
Homekit compatible devices are controlled via the Apple Home iOS app on your iPad, iPhone or Mac or using Siri. You can use the Apple Homekit to adjust the thermostat, turn on / off the lights, lock the doors, adjust the light levels and colors (with compatible products), control jacks, and more.
Apple Homekit shines when it comes to creating and running "scenes", a series of automation commands that allow you to control multiple devices at once by the push of a single button. For example, you can create a "Good Morning" scene that opens the blinds in the living room, turns on the bedroom and kitchen lights, raises the temperature, and starts the morning playlist - just by saying "Hey Siri, good morning."
While HomeKit is not compatible with as many devices as Google's Assistant or Amazon's Alexa, Apple has focused on simplicity, making it easier to control and expand their smart home ecosystem for home beginners. Apple continues to add more locks, lights and sockets supported to the list of compatible devices, which can be accessed here.
What's the difference between Google Home and Google Assistant?
Google has made things a little more complicated to understand with their smart home system, so let's clear up some confusion. First, Google Home generally refers to the hardware (devices) that Google Assistant runs on, while Google Assistant is the software that users interact with.
Google's smart home hardware family includes Google Home, Nest Mini, Home Max, Nest Hub, and Nest Hub Max.
Like Apple Home, Google Assistant can be used to operate compatible smart devices and create automation scenes. The Google Assistant claims to offer more than one million shares, with the caveat that they include all possible queries from both primary and third-party offers. Google's extensive applications / actions make it easier to branch out from home automation features, while Homekit is more awful in this area.
Apple Home Vs. Google Assistant: Smart Home compatibility
Apple and Google are both expanding their smart home capabilities, but as we mentioned above, Apple is slower to bring compatible devices.
Google works with a wide range of connected products, including many - if not most - third-party products. This includes lots of TVs, switches, sockets, thermostats, speakers and more. Apple has fewer compatible brands and devices in these categories, so if you haven't purchased smart products with the "Works with Apple Homekit" approval, it may take some time, if ever, before it is accepted by Apple Home.
However, Apple's narrower focus gives it an edge over Google Assistant, though, because Google Assistant isn't as easy for beginners, and setting up and running devices can be a chore.
Winner - Number of compatible devices: Google
Winner - Easiest to use: Apple
Apple Home Vs. Google Assistant: Price
Here the reality is installed for those with a budget. While the Apple Home app is free, the Apple Homekit entry point is much more expensive, and depending on the automation you want to control with Homekit, you can expect to pay $ 1,000 or more to get all the devices you need. you need. You can get smaller compatible devices, such as a single iHome iSP6X Smart Plug Control for about $ 27, but a Brilliant home controller costs $ 299. In addition, you'll need to get an iPad, Apple TV, or HomePod if you want to remotely control your smart home or set up advanced automation.
Google, on the other hand, has the Google Home Mini ($ 29), and at the other end of the spectrum, one with better sound quality, Max ($ 299). Google also offers two smart displays, Nest Hub ($ 89) and Nest Hub Max ($ 229); the latest model has a larger screen and includes a video call support room. The Google Home Mini is often on sale, especially on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and discount promotions are held occasionally throughout the year. In addition, with so many third-party devices at different prices, it's generally more affordable to build your smart home around Google Assistant-compatible devices.
Winner: Google
Conclusion
We will make this easier for you. Do you eat, sleep and breathe Apple? Do you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods and / or Apple TV? Get Apple Homekit.
Are you more open to using operating systems and devices that you don't control with an Apple product? Get Google Home.
Although these recommendations may seem like some police officers, these are the recommendations of our experts. If you're a fan of Apple, you'll be more at home with Apple Homekit products, as you'll probably have potential controllers and compatible devices. If you're looking for a system that's less crowded with "smart home fluff" such as trivia or Jurassic Bark game skills, and you're willing to pay a high entry fee, then choose Apple.
However, Google Home conquers Apple in terms of accessibility and compatibility. And no one says you can't own both. Maybe your wallet says you can't.
