The Siri-only doorbell works well at quickly detecting motion events and accurately telling the difference between people, animals, and vehicles. There aren’t many worthy options when it comes to Apple HomeKit-enabled video doorbells, but the Logitech Circle View Doorbell is one of the best we’ve tested. Smart Light Switch: Lutron Smart Switch.Smart Dimmer Switch: Lutron Caséta Wireless Smart Lighting Starter Kit.DIY Security System: Abode iota All-In-One Home Security Kit.Outdoor Security Camera: Logitech Circle View Outdoor Security Camera.Smart Bulb: Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit (Gen 3).Video Doorbell: Logitech Circle View Doorbell.Smart Lock: Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt.Smart Thermostat: Emerson Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Thermostat.In no particular order, these are the best smart home devices for Apple HomeKit we’ve tested: But if you’re all Apple, these are the ones to get. All of the devices below have been vigorously tested against competitors and lose some ground for being iOS only in our broader evaluation. While it doesn’t support nearly as many devices as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the number of products that work with Siri is constantly expanding.įrom home security systems to video doorbells and door locks, we’re always testing and reviewing the latest and greatest smart home gadgets for Apple HomeKit. You can do things like change the name of the speaker, select a default account, and even allow or disable explicit content to play.HomeKit is Apple’s smart home ecosystem that works exclusively with iOS devices to control compatible accessories like smart bulbs and plugs. From there you’ll be able to access all the settings for the HomePod. In the lower right hand corner you’ll see a button that says “Details” that you need to press. Once there you’ll need to locate the HomePod icon and click on it. If you’re looking to adjust the settings of your HomePod then you’ll need to go into the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
If you don’t feel like using your voice, there is a touch-sensitive pad on top of the speaker which lets you pause or play music by tapping the middle, adjust volume by pressing the minus or plus signs, and even access Siri by long-pressing the middle of the pad. This is great when you compare it to something like the Google Home Max which had trouble picking up my voice when music was playing loudly even if I was standing close to it. Whether volume was on ten percent or on 100 percent, it usually picked up my voice on the first or second try of saying the hotword. One good thing about the Apple HomePod is the microphones do a great job at picking up your voice, which is important as that’s the main way to control playback if you’re not within arms reach. We spoke about this topic extensively in our podcast episode titled, “Smart Speakers, A New Legal Frontier” so make sure to give that a listen if you’re interested in learning more about the subject. Also, the legal implications of having something in your home that’s always listening are still being debated.
They’re still recording you, but your inquiries are assigned a random ID instead of being associated with your account. Anyone that doesn’t want Google tracking them. If you’re not too happy about the fact that Google has a record of everything you ask the Google Home, then the added privacy of the Apple HomePod might just be the deciding factor for you.
You can ask Siri to play everything from that new Miley Cyrus song to jock jams and it’ll oblige seamlessly. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, this speaker is perfect for you.
Without a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, the HomePod can’t be used. But in the case of the Apple HomePod, having another Apple device is basically mandatory. It’s usually easier to get the most out of an Apple product if you already have another Apple product. Someone who owns Apple hardware (iPhone, iPad, Mac).