Welcome to our guide to your Apple Home. Although Apple's HomeKit platform was released back in 2014, it lags behind some other ecosystems. That's because while rivals are constantly bringing out devices like some of the best smart plugs, Apple prefers to leave HomeKit to third-party makers... and it's setting them very tough targets to get certified. Apple's first connected speakers have been discontinued, leaving only the HomePod Mini. You'll find that HomeKit devices are fewer in number and more expensive than many competing smart home systems, and Apple's Home app feels a little dated. As you might expect, HomeKit is specific to Apple smart homes. Android users will have to look elsewhere, or opt for products that also work with other platforms. The HomePod range of HomeKit is best controlled with Siri, which is built into most Apple devices. But Siri's voice recognition isn't great and can struggle with accents. We notice that he often mishears us and turns on one light when we have asked for another. HomeKit doesn't need a hub: If you have an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac, you can control your devices from the Home app over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. But you can also use an iPad, a HomePod Mini or an Apple TV as a hub and always listen to instructions. The HomePod Mini and second-generation HomePod also support Thread, a mesh networking standard that allows you to further extend Wi-Fi range in your home, as well as Matter, the new smart home standard that will become the default for many devices. Apple's smart speakers deliver surprisingly big sound for their small size – and the price includes six months of Apple Music if you're not already a subscriber. They're easy to set up and use, and you can use numerous HomePods to play the same thing everywhere or enjoy different audio in different rooms. And if you don't like shouting up the stairs, you can use them as an intercom system in your home. Does Hue have any regrets now? HomeKit works with key accessories like Ecobee and Hive thermostats and Hue bulbs, but that integration isn't perfect: we found that some Hue bulbs simply don't work with Siri but can be activated just fine from the Home app. You'll often find that HomeKit apps work both in Home and on their own devices. Hue lights are a good example: while the Home app can easily activate specific lights and scenes, the dedicated Hue app has many more features and options. How Apple TV 4K fits in The Apple TV 4K works great as a HomeKit hub, letting you control things with the included Siri-compatible remote. It's also a really great smart TV device that includes all your favorites - Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and all the major catch-up players - as well as the Apple TV+ service. You get a free year of Apple TV+ when you buy your device, and most other services offer free trials. The Apple TV 4K is also a pretty good music player, integrating closely with Apple Music and sounding particularly powerful if your television is connected to a soundbar or full speaker system. And if that's not enough, this thing is also a games console: i...

Great Automations One of the best things about smart home technology is that you can automate everyday things, and HomeKit is no exception. With the Home app you can set events to trigger specific things: for example, to automatically turn on your Hue lights when you get home. Absolute Scenes Scenes let you group multiple HomeKit devices together to do something specific. For example, you might have a "TV Time" scene where the lights dim, the temperature turns up a few degrees, and music playback on your HomePod Mini stops. Caring and Sharing Whether it's family members or a single guest, giving other people access to control your HomeKit devices is easy and secure, as long as they have an Apple ID. You can allow two types of access: the ability to manage gadgets, and the ability to add and edit them. Pretending to be the sun With Adaptive Lighting, your smart home can automatically adjust the color temperature of your compatible lights as the day progresses. So you might have warm, sunrise light for a cheerful start, bright white around noon and back to warm tones as the sun sets.

Now add this one... Nanoleaf Lines We are big fans of Nanoleaf. Where other smart lighting companies focus on fairly practical products, Nanoleaf is all about decorative fun – via a range of connectable shape lamps and a wild remote control. We have already had all kinds of forms, and the newest is Lines. These back-firing, color-controllable LED bars can be linked together to create truly stunning effects. The only limit is your budget – like other Nanoleaf products, the Lines are quite pricey. But when you see that they're synced to your Mac's screen or automatically change based on the music you're listening to, it seems worth it. Nanoleaf Lines start at $200/£180 for a starter kit, which includes a controller and nine lines. Each line is approximately 35cm long and the kit includes hexagonal connectors, mounting tape and a power supply. They're compatible with multiple smart home platforms, including HomeKit, so you can switch between different light scenes with Siri and create automations in Apple's Home app, and control the lights with the dedicated Nanoleaf app. Logitech Circle View When it comes to cameras, Logitech is best known for its high-quality webcams. So moving into the security camera industry was a logical step, as the hardware requirements are not that different. There's ultra-clear 1080p video, a 180° field of view, night vision... and encryption thanks to HomeKit Secure Video. Wemo Mini Smart Plug Belkin is one of the most popular Apple accessory manufacturers and its HomeKit products are built to a high standard. We use Wemo plugs for all kinds of lighting and even for the odd Christmas tree. You can control them via Siri, the Home app, or the free Wemo phone app. Meross WIFI Power Strip The Meross smart power strip is a hub for all your power and charging needs. With six power outlets and four USB ports, it's a very capable, versatile package. It also has built-in surge protection and works with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, covering pretty much all the bases. Netatmo Smart Thermostat The fact that Apple doesn't have its own smart home device division has left room for companies like Netatmo to offer their own solutions, and this Smart Thermostat is very impressive. It also works with Google and Alexa and can automate your heating based on your habits. Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller Most smart home technology is aimed at indoor use, but Eve also thinks outdoors: the Smart Water Controller connects to an outdoor tap and allows you to automate watering with up to seven different programs. It's a great way to ensure your lawn is truly green. Why are HomeKit products so pricey? products that cost more than comparable products from other companies, but third-party HomeKit products also tend to be more expensive. And that's because Apple is much stricter about HomeKit than the makers of other smart home platforms. To get certified by Apple, manufacturers have to do more than just write software to make their products compatible: For HomeKit's first three years, companies had to build in a special authentication chip and jump through hoops to become officially certified. The chip is no longer needed, but other hoops are still there. Let's take the costs. Apple's control is both good and bad for consumers. That's nice, because then you know for sure that a HomeKit device won't blow up your house or set your coffee maker on fire. But making Apple happy takes time and money, and of course manufacturers pass those costs on to us. That's the price of the 'Works with Apple HomeKit' logo. Jargon Buster Multiroom Audio When speakers can play in more than one room at the same time, playing the same audio everywhere at the same time or playing different audio in different rooms. Intercom A feature in many smart speakers that allows you to broadcast your voice to other speakers on the same network. Useful if you want to scare visitors. Home hub In a smart home, the hub is the device that other gadgets connect to so they can be centrally controlled. Not all smart home devices need to be connected to it.