If you see a "HomeKit compatible" label on the packaging of a smart-home device, that means you can control it with your iPhone or iPad. HomeKit is Apple's smart-home software. It works in the background on modern Apple devices and allows you to control your connected lightbulbs, locks and thermostats without jumping to a different app for each one.
Instead of tangling with different apps for your connected Philips bulbs and your August smart locks, you can control all of your HomeKit-compatible devices with a single iOS app -- Apple's Home app. You can set up rules so that one device talks to another -- your lights will turn on when you unlock your door. You can also control and check on your devices with a spoken command to Apple's digital assistant, Siri.
HomeKit also helps device makers design products to work with an iOS device. Think of HomeKit as a set of design rules. Third parties can use these rules to make products for HomeKit that can work seamlessly with all other HomeKit devices -- even ones made by other companies.
Head here for a full list of HomeKit compatible products. Highlights include:
- The August Smart Lock
- The Chamberlain Smart Garage
- The Honeywell Lyric Thermostat
- Ecobee thermostats
- Lifx Plus Smart Bulbs
- Philips Hue Smart Bulbs
- The Lutron Caseta Wireless Starter Kit
- Belkin WeMo Switches
The upcoming Apple HomePod will supposedly allow you to control HomeKit devices without even interacting with your phone. The $350 HomePod will be functionally similar to the Amazon Echo -- an always-listening device that popularized the idea of a smart speaker. Head here for a guide to getting started with HomeKit.
Discuss: What is HomeKit?
Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.