How to choose HomeKit devices

If you're an existing Apple user who wants to be part of the HomeKit smart home revolution, the first thing you'll want to know is what works with it and what doesn't. HomeKit accessories and devices are sold with a 'Works with Apple HomeKit' badge. Some older devices that rely on Apple's hardware-based HomeKit capability also use 'HomeKit edition' as an identifier.

HomeKit Smart Home Hubs

To get the most out of HomeKit you'll need an Apple HomeKit hub for full functionality. The HomeKit Hub is a bridge between your smart home devices and the internet. Apple's HomeKit is the easiest smart home ecosystem to use, as long as you're an iPhone user.

While a smart home hub isn't strictly essential for HomeKit - you can control many devices just from your iPhone, adding one to your set-up gets you remote access and more control over Automations, and for a serious smart home set-up you're going to need a hub. In setting up a HomeKit hub, there are two hub options for your Apple home (three including an iPad, but we don't recommend that as your primary hub). You can use one, or all three if you like, as HomeKit will take care of which is in charge, an Apple HomePod Mini and Apple TV 4K.