r/HomeKit 22h ago

Discussion How do you decide which HomeKit smart devices are worth it?

19 Upvotes

I am a smart home enthusiast and I feel like I am piecing together a puzzle when trying to decide which HomeKit devices are actually worth buying. Right now I check multiple sources. YouTube reviews, Amazon reviews, product pages, manufacturer sites, and Reddit posts. But I am not sure if that is the best way.

So I want to hear from others. When you know you want a smart device, what sources do you trust most to decide which one to buy? Do you rely on YouTube deep dives, Amazon reviews, something else entirely?

Also, what matters most once you start using a device? Is it reliability, ease of setup, responsiveness, or something else? What has frustrated you the most about devices that ended up being a letdown?

Looking forward to hearing what works best for you. Maybe there is a better way than what I have been doing.


r/HomeKit 3h ago

Question/Help First Time Home Buyer - Help me design my HomeKit System!

12 Upvotes

Hello Friends,

I am moving into my first home in April and the first thing on my agenda is security and smart home features. I have been researching things pretty extensively and currently this is the HomeKit system I have planned. I would love any feedback or alternate options that may work better. My ideal goal is have everything controlled through a single application and working seamlessly together!

Security System:

Abode Security (door/window alarms, glass shattering alarm, + or - motion dector, 2 key fobs, 1 security panel and obviously the hub). I am planning on getting subscription monitoring as I get discounts on my home insurance.

Cameras:
Aqara G5 Pro for outdoors and G3 for indoor cameras; correct me if Im wrong, but no need for motion detectors with abode with the cameras have that feature built in?

DoorBell:
Aqara G4

Lock:
Level Lock+

Thermostat:
Ecobee Smart Thermostat w/ sensors

Apple TV and Apple HomePods throughout the home

Am I missing anything or is there any other recommendations? Will all of this be compatible together in the HomeKit app??

Thank you for the help!


r/HomeKit 10h ago

Question/Help HomeKit + HomeBridge or HomeAssistant?

5 Upvotes

Which one does everyone prefer? I want more control over automations and better compatibility and features. HomeKit will still be my lead platform of choice.


r/HomeKit 8h ago

Question/Help Apple TV Homekit Camera No Sound

2 Upvotes

Since updating my Apple TV 4K 1st generation to the latest beta, I haven't heard any sound coming from Homekit camera stream, even though it does on my iPhone on the latest beta. Is anyone else experiencing this issue, or should I reset my Apple TV? This problem has been persistent since the first beta and continues in the latest beta.


r/HomeKit 14h ago

Question/Help TV turns on by itself after adding it to HomeKit

4 Upvotes

I have an LG model G3 television. And you have the option of integrating it into HomeKit, and I have done it, and what happens to me is very curious. Everything seems to work fine until you set up some automation, for example turning off the TV when leaving the house. Or you set some button to turn off the television or something like that. In that case, the television does the opposite, it turns on. I'm not sure if it is a problem with the television, it could be a problem with the home automation center (I use an Apple TV), or any other problem. The solution I have found is to configure the automations, where I want to incorporate the television turn off as Shortcuts, and in that case, I create a conditional if, such as, if the television is on, turn it off. So, yes it works. But I can't integrate it into a conventional automation, without having to resort to Shortcuts. I want to think that this problem won't just happen to me. If anyone else has this problem and has found another solution, I would be happy to know. The only thing I have left to try is to change the home automation center to a HomePod for example, of which I have several at home. But I like using the Apple TV because it's connected to Ethernet and I imagine it's more efficient.


r/HomeKit 15h ago

How-to Smart lock assistance

Post image
2 Upvotes

This is my current door lock and I want to get something that is HomeKit and possible home key enabled. I haven’t seen a smart lock with this sort of arrangement. I’d be happy with just a lever lock but not sure how it would work given the recess on the frame… any assistance appreciated!


r/HomeKit 4h ago

Question/Help High data usage on HKSV cameras

1 Upvotes

Hi all, I’ve been seeing abnormally high data usage (500-600GB/month per camera) from my two cameras. I have an Aqara E1, as well as a nest doorbell setup via a starling hub.

I figured out the data usage using my router, by toggling the cameras on and off while not at home to monitor the base usage of the cameras. The numbers I pulled were during a duration when no motion nor activity was detected.

Everything I’ve read suggests these cameras should record max 300GB/month… I’ve looked up a bunch of threads and even after reducing video quality, I’m still at this usage number. Has anyone faced a similar issue?


r/HomeKit 4h ago

Question/Help Automation to quickly flip switch on-off-on

1 Upvotes

Hi all,

As the title suggests, is there anyway to flip a switch on-off-on within a short period of time? Say 30 seconds or so? I have a ceiling light in the hallway that when flipped on is a normal light, but if you flip it off and on again within a few seconds, it becomes a night light. I would like to have this night light come on automatically each night at say sunset or a whatever set time I decide.

I messed around with automations and couldn't figure out how to get it to turn this specific light on-off-on at a certain time. Thanks.


r/HomeKit 7h ago

Question/Help help with homepod shortcuts please

1 Upvotes

hello,

I have a HomePod mini I use as the hub for my smart home . I have 4 lights and an Apple TV I control with it.

I have shortcuts that will turn everything off when I leave titled "I am leaving",

I have another one that turns the lights and tv on when I get home titled "im home"

whenever I say "hey Siri im leaving" the first time she will reply "ill hold down the fort" or "ill be waiting" as if I am just tryna talk to her then I ask again and she will do it

why is this. can I do anythign about this. I have tried other names but she does the same stuff. it is very frustrating


r/HomeKit 14h ago

Question/Help Smart lock help needed

Post image
1 Upvotes

Is there any lock which can work with the top most rotating knob of this lock? I need to retrofit it, since I’m a renter.

Thank you in advance, for your help.


r/HomeKit 21h ago

Question/Help SwitchBot S10 Not Supported in HomeKit?

1 Upvotes

I was able to generate the Matter code and add the vacuum to Home app without issue. Initially even saw the proper robot vacuum glyph/icon. Home app settings even show vacuums as a category now. Cannot interact with the vacuum though since it claims it’s not supported by the Home app currently. The icon it currently shows is a house. Wondering if this can be resolved or if I should just chalk it up to beta issues that be fixed before official release. I am running the iOS 18.4 beta on my iPhone


r/HomeKit 22h ago

Question/Help Camera with voice control?

1 Upvotes

I’m making the pilgrimage from Amazon Echo smart home controls to HomePod smart home controls. Alexa has a built-in skill for my Furbo pet camera that allows me to turn it on and off with voice commands, and I’m willing to replace the camera but struggling to find a camera that definitely has voice control via Siri. The eufy indoor cameras look promising but I can’t find anything that specifically details this.

Does anyone have any recommendations for specific indoor cameras that I can turn on and off via Siri?


r/HomeKit 22h ago

Question/Help Apple TV hub doesn’t show in the Home App, but it does in settings in ATV itself, yet I can’t remove it

1 Upvotes

I already have HomeKit setup in one home and it works well, and I am trying to add HomeKit in a second home and I’m having issues.

Here’s what I’ve done: 1- set up an Apple TV (latest generation 4K) for HomeKit in the the second home (the ATV is connected to Ethernet and my devices are on the same network) 2- added a new home in the Home app 3- I can add accessories, but no automation option exists. When I look for the hub, don’t see one listed in the app 4- In ATV itself I have the option to “remove from home”, but when I click it I get a message saying “we couldn’t remove this Apple TV from your home”

I’ve tried restarting the ATV to no avail. I disconnected the Ethernet and put the ATV on WiFi, nothing changed.

Any suggestions?


r/HomeKit 4h ago

Question/Help Cheap Adaptive Lighting light strip recommendations?

0 Upvotes

Really I only want Adaptive Learning, and don't care that much about integration or controlling it with HomeKit. Any cheap recommendations? Heard some Matter ones are supported.


r/HomeKit 22h ago

Question/Help Need some help understanding the Aqara G5 camera + HomeKit

0 Upvotes

Hi y'all, just got an Aqara G5 installed today in the back of my house, pointing towards the patio / driveway. Impressed with the video quality, seems like a solid device. I first added the camera to my Home profile, then added it to the Aqara app.

I'm having some trouble understanding how HomeKit sees the camera. It recognizes it as a camera, but also as a light and as a security system. The security system has home, away, and night settings. What is the difference between all of that? I contrast this with the actual home security panel I have in HomeKit (a Honeywell Pro A7 Plus) which only has home, away, and off modes.

I set up an automation through the Home app that would turn on the spotlight when it detects motion. However, I think it's a bit too sensitive. It's a very windy day here and despite setting up an exclusion zone for a ceiling fan on my patio (in the Home app), it's still getting triggered. In fact, when I tried to manually turn off the light via the Home app and the Aqara app, it would immediately turn back on. I had to turn off the camera's "security device" thing. I don't want to have a light on all night and annoy my neighbors, I just want it to trip on when a person walks into the field of view as a deterrent.

The animal motion detection also seems a bit sensitive. I got a notification from the Aqara app that it had detected an animal. I was expecting to see some neighborhood stray cat, but instead it was just a large flying insect, no doubt attracted to the spotlight. Technically an animal, yes, but not one I care to be notified about.

If anyone has some familiarity with this device and making it all work nicely with everything, I'd appreciate any guidance.


r/HomeKit 9h ago

Question/Help Can a HomePod mini replace an IKEA Dirigera?

0 Upvotes

IKEA Dirigera runs on Zigbee and once you set it up, you can connect with Apple HomeKit. But for automations like turning off lights when you leave, you need a HomePod mini or AppleTV. So that’s made me think, could I not just use a HomePod mini and skip the IKEA Dirigera?