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Smart home platforms are similar to the famous xkcd strip. Each new one is designed to be the 'one ring', but most of the time it just becomes a new standard to follow. Homey Pro tries to bridge that gap by acting as a hub for everything. It supports Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave and, available in 2024, Thread. HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to Apple's smart home framework.

Hardware The new Homey Pro contains a 1.8 GHz Quad Core ARMv8, 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM, and 8 GB eMMC Flash. It also uses a 5V2A and a USB-C power connection. It has built-in Wi-Fi, but there is also a $29 ethernet adapter upgrade that I would highly recommend. While the WiFi on the device is solid, I prefer Ethernet when available. It's just another variable. which I would like to eliminate. One of the features I appreciate about the Homey Pro is that everything happens locally. This means it will work even if the internet goes out or you are in a situation where your ISP is buried. This can especially be the case in places where you use satellite internet, etc. Installation process Homey has done a fantastic job with the onboarding process on Homey Pro. Connect it to a wall socket (Ethernet if you have one) and then open the Homey app. You'll have it added to your app in just a few minutes. You'll probably need to apply a firmware update, but it will do it automatically and then reboot so you're ready to add devices. Homey apps You can see Homey apps as the Homey app store. You can also manage them online by logging into your Homey account. I like that you don't have to use the Homey app for more complex configurations. The Homey App Store. In some ways, Homey has done a better job of becoming the Apple of smart home platforms than Apple has. The first device I installed was the Fibaro wall plug. If you look at the Fibaro page in Homey's app store, you can see how well the Homey team has done with a simple user interface. Another good example of Homey's flexibility is the Sonos integration. Overall, adding devices is in some ways easier than HomeKit, as Homey guides you through putting devices into pairing mode, etc. Advanced Flow For people who want to go to the next level in automation, Homey has Advanced current. It reminds me of an IFTTT or Zapier for your local home automation. So whatever you want to build, it's pretty much possible. If you want to take it to the next level, you can use the script functionality called HomeyScript. HomeyScript is a JavaScript-based language that works with the Homey API and various SDK functions. Here are a few things you can do: Control and monitor your Homey's devices Start a HomeyScript from a Flow, even with tags Only allow a Flow to proceed if your HomeyScript is 'True!' Create and manage flow tags from a HomeyScript Access the API of any website from a HomeyScript Have Homey speak dynamic text Who is Homey Pro intended for? For an Apple user, Homey Pro is ideal for someone who wants to use Zigbee and Z-Wave in addition to Matter devices. There are many advantages over just a simple HomeKit setup in terms of functionality and automation, but there is a bit of a learning curve. The hub isn't cheap compared to buying an Apple TV or HomePod mini as a home hub, but it does offer some benefits. If you're just a "basic" smart home platform person, this probably isn't for you. If you want to do more with your smart home, which Apple or Google allows out-of-the-box, but you don't want to build your own hardware and put together open-source software. It's an excellent middle ground. You can buy a Homey Pro from Amazon or directly from Homey. FTC: We use monetized auto-affiliate links. More.

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