I've been watching OneLink Safe and Sound for a few months now and decided to pull the trigger a few weeks ago and see how it is in everyday use. My house is seven years old, so I'll be looking to replace all the smoke detectors in the next few years, so if I wanted to go on a smart home route, I'd like to have time to spread the shopping.
Weekly HomeKit is a series focused on smart home accessories, tips and tricks for automation and everything related to the smart frame for Apple.
It is important to note that a HomeKit connected smoke detector is not compatible with your existing security system, so it will only be for local notifications. If you want a smoke detector that works with a HomeKit compatible security system, you want to check the accommodation. While smoke detectors in the home system are not displayed in the HomeKit, they can notify the central station in the event of a fire. They work by listening to the sound of wired smoke detectors.
That being said, let's dig into Onelink Safe and Sound. Why would you want a HomeKit activated smoke detector? Well, like everything else with HomeKit, it's about the automation you can create. While Onelink Safe and Sound will beep if it detects fire or carbon monoxide, it will ring the other smoke detectors in your home. In the Home app, you'll also be able to set up automation to turn on all your lights if smoke is detected, play your HomePod, and more. I have a lot of values that OneLink Safe & Sound is wired to my electrical system so I don't have to worry about replacing the batteries every few months.
Just being HomeKit compatible would not make this product worth the money. If you only want a HomeKit compatible smoke detector, it would be better to buy a product at a lower price. What makes OneLink Safe and Sound unique is that it has a built-in speaker that recently received a firmware update to make it compatible with AirPlay 2. You may be wondering why I would spend $ 150 + on an AirPlay 2 speaker when you can often find an offer on a HomePod for about $ 200? From a purely sound comparison, HomePod is a speaker that sounds much better, but OneLink Safe & Sound has no noise. I would rate it a little better than an Echo Dot in terms of overall sound quality. If it is beneficial it is to be installed in places where a HomePod would not work.
Because it is powered by existing smoke detector wiring, you can place it in the hallways to provide audio for the entire house. I liked having the speaker in our bedroom. It would be excessive to add the current HomePod to my bedroom, but OneLink Safe and Sound is perfect for that. When I'm home alone, I'll use the Apple Music app to stream music to the HomePod and OneLink on the entire main level of my house. I especially like the speaker in the bedroom while I do laundry.
The setup experience is as simple as any other HomeKit product. I removed the existing smoke detector and its board and then installed the OneLink board in the same wiring board. I then connected OneLink Safe & Sound, used the OneLink app to record it, and then I was able to add it to the Home app. One of the main reasons you want to use the application is to install firmware updates. My smoke detector did not include AirPlay 2 support in the box, so I used the app to update the firmware to add AirPlay 2 support.
Wrap on OneLink Safe & Sound
The OneLink Safe and Sound functionality is exactly what you would expect from a HomeKit-enabled smoke detector with AirPlay 2 support. It's easy to install and it's a pretty solid speaker. Is it worth the price? Compared to a HomePod it is not, but if you want to add a wired HomeKit activated smoke detector, it is a great choice.
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