You can pair Apple HomeKit devices with your iPhone as soon as you set them up, but if you want to control your products when you're away from home then you'll need a HomeKit hub. The Hub works as a bouncer for your home's Wi-Fi network. When you try to control a smart lock from the Apple Home app while you're at work, for example, the job of the hub is to check your ID before you leave.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Apple HomeKit

Apple doesn't offer a standalone HomeKit hub, but instead, it forces you to choose between three high-priced Apple gadgets that do the job: the HomePod smart speaker, a third-gen Apple TV or better, or a dedicated TV, Always an iPad.

While you can find it for sale, the $ 300 HomePod is still too expensive for what it is. In the meantime, the iPad route is a bit clumsy, especially since it should always be on and off. Therefore, I would go with Apple TV - preferably Apple TV 4K, which David Katzmaier of CNET considers the best streamer available today. At $ 169, it's not cheap, but none of these HomeKit hubs do. And in addition to serving as an excellent streamer, you'll be able to stream video from compatible HomeKit cameras on your TV with a voice remote control.

Read the Apple TV 4K review.

Chris Monroe / CNET

You have a lot of exciting options if you're in the market for a smart thermostat, including some thermostats that support Siri control via Apple HomeKit. Of these, we like the best Ecobee thermostats. At $ 250, the Ecobee4 thermostat is the newest, but it really only adds an Alexa speaker built into the experience. This is not the biggest draw if you anchor your smart home to Apple HomeKit and focus around Siri for voice controls.

Read more: The best smart thermostats of 2020

That's why I think it's a smart move to match one of the previous generation, less expensive Ecobee thermostats. They all work just as well with Apple HomeKit and also support the outstanding temperature sensors from Ecobee. The Ecobee3 thermostat is listed as being sold on the Ecobee website, but the Ecobee3 Lite thermostat is still available between $ 169 and $ 190. This is the right price for HomeKit compatible climate control.

Read the Ecobee3 Lite review.

Tyler Lizenby / CNET

For $ 169, your August Smart Lock Pro purchase sets you up to lock on itself, plus the Wi-Fi hub plug-in you need to sync with HomeKit and an open / closed sensor for your door. It also has a lot of useful integrations beyond HomeKit compatibility, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, IFTTT and optional Z-Wave support.

Read more: The best smart locks of 2020

It is certainly not a cheap smart block, but it is best for HomeKit households that we have tested so far. I say wait for a sale and then the pound.

Read the August Smart Lock Pro review.

Chris Monroe / CNET

At $ 180, the Logitech Circle 2 can be used indoors or out and has proven reliable and responsive when tested with Apple HomeKit. Wired design means that you'll have to keep it close to an outlet, but in fact I prefer this to something with batteries that may be dead at unsuitable times. A battery-powered version is available for an extra $ 20, if that's your preference.

Read more: The best smart home security cameras of 2020

Once you find a place for it and set it up, you'll be able to view the stream directly from the Home app (or, if you have an Apple TV, even on your TV). Circus 2 offers motion sensors, night vision and two-way audio. You also get free video reporting based on 24-hour events, plus the option to extend that video history to 14 or 31 days for a monthly fee of $ 4 or $ 10 (subscribers also have access to a feature zone alert for movement). My favorite part might be the variety of accessories that Logitech sells to help you fit in smart places. All this adds up to a very small room, which costs less than popular competitors like Arlo and D-Link Omna.

Read the Logitech Circle 2 review.

Tyler Lizenby / CNET

Smart switches are another good option if you want to automate the lights in your home - especially for points where one switch controls multiple light bulbs at once. You have several options that work with HomeKit, but our favorite by far is the Dimmer Switch from Lutron Box.

Read more: Smart plugs, bulbs and switches: Which one is right for you?

Why Lutron? For starters, Lutron has been activating dimmer switches for decades, and it's a smart home lock. Its well-functioning switches work with everything, accept three-way configurations and look properly, without worry. Along with a wide variety of light switches, the Caseta platform also offers special switches for things like Sonos ceiling fans and speakers, as well as Serena luxury smart shades. All of these communicate with Lutron Bridge using Lutron's patented Clear Connect wireless standard, which is one of the fastest and most reliable standards we tested at CNET Smart Home.

This is a long way of saying that they are very good light switches. Right now, you can get one on Amazon with Lutron Bridge and a Pico bonus remote that you can anchor on the wall as a second switch or you can carry a total cost of $ 89.

Read the review of the Dimmer Smart Lutron Switch Box.

It's counter-intuitive, maybe, but Philips Hue is best when you skip colors and focus on Hue White bulbs, which put smart light and can be reduced to a 2,700K yellow. That's because the best thing about Hue bulbs is not the colors, but rather, the power of their best-in-class platform, which works with everything, matches extremely well with Apple HomeKit and comes bundled with useful features.

Read more: The complete Philips Hue light guide

To take advantage of this, you'll need to get a Philips Hue starter kit that comes with the essential Hue Bridge - and the Hue White two-light starter kit, currently available on Amazon for $ 70, is an affordable way. And yes, you can always add color changing bulbs to your setting later (preferably when they go on sale).

Read the Philips Hue White LED starter kit review.

Chris Monroe / CNET

If the special-looking colors are what you most want from your smart lights, go with Lifx, an Australian start-up that has become a pretty important player in the smart lighting space for the past few years. Like Philips Hue, its bulbs work with almost everything, including Apple HomeKit, but they also show brighter, better-looking colors. In addition, Lifx bulbs use a Wi-Fi connection to communicate, so they do not need a hub.

Read more: Best color-changing smart lights (which cost less than Philips Hue)

Lifx makes a lot of light bulbs, headlights, light strips and even wall tiles, all of which you can program, control and schedule for your heart's content using the excellent Lifx app. I like the Lifx Mini, which costs less than the comparable Hue bulb. Bonus Styles on the Lifx Z Strip, which can take more colors at once Hue's light band still can't do that.

Want something that costs less? Check out the changing color Sylvania Smart Plus LED, which you can get now for less than $ 30 on Amazon.

Read the Lifx Mini LED review.

Chris Monroe / CNET

They are not for everyone, but if you are creating a bright-looking playroom or decorating a children's room, then maybe consider Nanoleaf's color-changing LED wall panels. The nine-panel starter kit comes in the form of second-gen triangles or squares - both cost around $ 200, but I prefer the square-shaped Canvas Nanoleaf panels because of the added touch sensitivity and the fact that you have more room to expand the setup. you should decide to go crazy with things.

Read more: The best smart lights to cover your walls in colors

Panels use Wi-Fi to connect to the router (and HomeKit), so they don't need a hub. Once configured, you'll be able to switch between hundreds of user-created animated presets, including those that use the on-board microphone to synchronize color changes with whatever music you listen to or whatever game you're playing. In addition to supporting Siri voice controls, she also works with Alexa, Google and IFTTT.

Bonus points for the optional Nanoleaf remote control, a 12-sided motion-sensitive surround that you can use to trigger Nanoleaf scenes or HomeKit automations by just rotating different parts to the top. Cost for that device: $ 50.

Read Nanoleaf Canvas review.

Tyler Lizenby / CNET

Do you just want a plug that you can turn on and off using Siri commands? Go with the WeMo Mini, which you can get for less than $ 30 each. It was actually the first device to sync with HomeKit via the software protocol, as opposed to an onboard MFi chipset (WeMo Bridge is not required), so it is clear that WeMo appreciates a smooth, up-to-date connection to the Apple cloud. A subsidiary of Belkin, WeMo also has a good track record of responding quickly to platform issues and potential vulnerabilities through regular firmware updates.

Read more: The best smart plugs and switches of 2020

The disadvantage with WeMo is that the application is slightly worse than I would like, with delays and mating problems. But, having used WeMo products fairly regularly over the past five years, I haven't noticed any delays when it comes to automation, voice controls or third-party integration with IFTTT. And, once you sync it with HomeKit, you'll use the Home app, not the WeMo app. Bottom line: If you have a lamp, coffee machine, office fan, or anything else you want to automate that needs to be plugged in, the WeMo Mini is a great choice.

Read the WeMo Mini Smart Plug review.