I said in May that the redesigned Home app was on my wishlist for iOS 16, and WWDC didn’t disappoint. HomeKit is getting a major update with iOS 16, including a brand new Home app, lock screen widgets, new Home key providers, deeper Matter support, and more. Let’s take a look at what’s new in the HomeKit update for iOS 16.
HomeKit Weekly is a series dedicated to smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to the Apple smart home system.
iOS 16 HomeKit App Updates
The Home app hasn’t changed much since its original release. New device categories have been added, but the overall functionality remains the same. With iOS 16, Apple has reimagined the smart home. The light switch, thermostat, security system, and cameras are not the same devices, so the Home app treats them differently. iOS 16 gives you faster access to certain categories like TVs, speakers, cameras, lighting, and more. If you look at the climate section, you’ll see all of your climate-related accessories in your home. While iOS 16 isn’t as detailed as HomeCam, it also improves multi-camera viewing at the same time. There are also many new icons that can be used to differentiate between devices. I especially like how you can make different devices have icons of different sizes.
In my early testing of iOS 16, I believe Apple is addressing something I started noticing last year: the iOS 15 HomeKit UI doesn’t scale when your HomeKit environment is larger than 10 or so devices. Apple’s reinvention is perfect for a smart home setup built on HomeKit. Apple’s first take on the Home app looks like a fantastic upgrade.
iPad and home hubs
I suspect that customers who use iPads at home are a very small percentage. It’s much more practical to use a HomePod mini, Apple TV, or even an original HomePod. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a home hub, this is what’s needed to access HomeKit products when you’re away from home. This is also required to use HomeKit Secure Video with compatible cameras. Video captured by your HSKW cameras is privately encrypted on your home hub and uploaded to iCloud so that only you and those you share it with can view it.
In iOS 16, iPad can still be used as a HomeKit home hub, but only if you don’t need the latest HomeKit features.
Since the iPad will not be supported as a home hub with the new architecture, users who rely on the iPad for this purpose do not need to update the Home architecture and can continue to enjoy all existing features.
iOS 16 HomeKit Brings Matter Support
iOS touts iOS 16 as improving overall Homekit reliability. Overall, I’ve had a lot of luck with HomeKit, but I know it depends a lot on your device choice and Wi-Fi deployment. Matter will be officially supported in iOS 16 when it becomes available this fall. Apple has mentioned that they contributed to Matter through HomeKit. While we won’t know for some time, I have high hopes that Matter can do for smart home technology what Wi-Fi standards have done for the Wi-Fi industry. I just recently purchased one of the new Eero Wi-Fi6E routers for my new home, so I’m looking forward to trying it out in the coming months.
General Thoughts on iOS 16 HomeKit Updates
While we didn’t have continuous recording in HomeKit Secure Video, Apple has delivered a fantastic vision for the future of the Home app with the iOS 16 Homekit updates. All the photos I’ve seen so far show me that Apple understands that customers have moved beyond a few products in their home and it’s entirely possible to have 30+ HomeKit devices between lights, doors, alarm systems, cameras, etc.
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