More and more manufacturers support Apple’s HomeKit. We separate the wheat from the chaff and tell you about our eleven favorite HomeKit devices.
These are the 11 best HomeKit devices
With all the gadgets that can already be connected to Apple’s ecosystem, you can already make your home quite smart. That will only increase in the future, now that Apple has joined the Thread Group. This will make HomeKit a lot more versatile.
Do you now want to expand your collection of HomeKit devices or do you not know where to start building a smart home? We give you an overview of the eleven best HomeKit devices for a smarter home.
1. Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit – 132 euros
One of the most welcome innovations is smart lamps. With this you never have to switch off all the lights one by one again, but switch the light in an entire room, floor or the entire house off or on at once. With this starter kit you not only provide a room with smart lamps, but you can set your lights in 16 million colors for the perfect effect.
The Philips Hue lamps are perfect for building certain light scenes via Apple’s Home app, for a movie night or the dark winter mornings. Or use the lamps as a natural alarm clock. The Hue lamps are fairly pricey, but the most comprehensive option. The starter set contains a Hue Bridge, which you need to connect the lamps to the internet. Once you have a Bridge, you can also purchase individual lamps to further expand your collection.
2. TADO smart thermostat – 149 euros
Especially in winter it is not nice to come home to a cooled down house. A smart thermostat thinks along with you and ensures that your home always has the perfect temperature at the right times.
Based on your phone location, the Tado thermostat sees that you are on the way home, and only heats the home when it is needed. As soon as the last person leaves the house, the temperature is adjusted downwards again.
Tado also keeps an eye on the weather forecast, so that it can respond to it. This efficient way of heating saves you a lot of money and gives you a better insight into your consumption.
3. IKEA TRÅDFRI smart lamp – 29.95 euros
Do you think the Philips Hue series is too pricey? Fortunately, furniture giant IKEA has a number of reasonably priced alternatives. The smart lamps from IKEA can be dimmed or switched on and off both via the Home app and via a remote control. Thanks to the friendly price, you can provide multiple rooms in your house with smart lamps and set them the way you like them.
With a little technical keywork, you can also link individual IKEA lamps to a Philips Hue bridge. Handy if you already have a Philips starter set, but prefer to expand it with cheaper IKEA lamps.
4. IKEA TRÅDFRI smart socket – 19.95 euros
IKEA also offers a smart socket, so you can still add ‘non-smart’ devices to your HomeKit. Plug in your floor lamp, coffee maker or other household gadget and you’re ready to go.
These devices can now also be set via the accompanying HomeKit Home app or via a remote control. You can also set a timer, so that, for example, your coffee machine switches off automatically when the coffee is ready.
5. IKEA TRÅDFRI wireless motion sensor – 19.95 euros
A motion sensor is not only easy, but also creates more security. Especially outside, a lamp with a sensor deters potential burglars. Indoors it is a handy option in, for example, the garage or toilet. IKEA again offers the cheapest option for this. Combine the sensor with smart IKEA lamps or light panels and you make your home a little smarter again.
6. Fibaro The Button – 59.99 euros
The Button from Fibaro lets you manually control all kinds of smart devices at the same time with one push of a button. For example, by tapping the button you turn on your lighting, the speaker plays your favorite playlist, the thermostat is operated and your Apple TV turns on.
In fact, the button does the same as when you build your own scenes in the Home app for your devices and start them from your iPhone. But always being able to press a large button makes operating your devices extra fun. The button is also useful if there are people living in your house who do not have an iPhone or HomeKit device. This makes it easy for children to activate a specific scene, for example.
→ Tip: This is how you create scenes in the Home app (and this is how you automate them)
7. Honeywell Lyric T6 smart thermostat – EUR 147.99
The Honeywell smart thermostat is also a great option if you want to make your energy consumption more efficient. A big plus on the Lyric T6 is the clear touchscreen. If, in certain situations, you prefer to set something yourself via the thermostat, you can see all the necessary information at a glance.
This thermostat also takes your location into account and automatically learns from it. You can also set weekly schedules, so that your heating is completely adapted to your daily life. For example, it switches on a little later on a Saturday morning, when you turn around for a while.
8. Netgear baby monitor / indoor IP camera – 235 euros
You can safely call the IP camera from Netgear a baby monitor 2.0. Thanks to advanced night vision, the camera also gives you a clear picture of your little one at night and thanks to two-way audio you can also talk back remotely.
The Arlo Baby can give you both movement and sound alerts. You can set whether you want a notification with every sound, or only if your baby is crying. In addition, a speaker is incorporated in the camera, so that you can also play lullabies.
You can easily control the music from your iPhone. But that’s not all: it also contains air sensors that warn of high temperature, humidity or harmful substances. The night light can also be set in all kinds of colors.
9. Logitech Circle 2 IP camera – 155 euros
Logitech’s Circle 2 IP camera can keep an eye on things for you both indoors and outdoors. The camera can be mounted on all kinds of surfaces, or simply put it down. Thanks to the 180-degree viewing angle, night vision and a live stream function, you always know what is happening in and around your house.
Is the delivery person at the door with a package while you are not at home? Talk back via the app, so that you can, for example, give the delivery person instructions. In case of unexpected movements, you can easily check the images live.
10. Nanoleaf Rhythm lamp kit – 235.64 euros
Nanoleaf does not make smart lamps, but smart light panels. You can make it as big as you want, and attach it in a shape that best fits your home. See what that can look like in the video below.
The Rhytm kit can also be tuned to music, and transforms the music you play into matching light scenes. In addition, the panels can be set for certain situations, so that, for example, you see soft, increasingly brighter shades and colors when you wake up and get soothing light in the evenings.
11. Danalock V3 – 255.83
Do you always lose your keys? Then the smart lock from Danalock is a good solution. This allows you to manage your door lock via your iOS devices. You open the door for yourself or others via Siri or the Home app.
Because you can add co-residents in the Home app, the rest of your family no longer needs a key. In addition, you can always use your normal key, which also serves as a spare. Conveniently, the wireless lock is easy to install without special tools.
Monthly Theme HomeKit
In November, iPhoned will be all about HomeKit. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about Apple’s smart device ecosystem. Do you have a question or something you would like more information about? Leave a comment below this article or send an email to redactie@bigspark.com.
Read more about our HomeKit monthly theme
- Use HomeKit on your Apple Watch: control your home from your wrist (30-11-2020)
- Apple Pay, HomeKit and more: you can do all this with the nfc chip in your iPhone (7/21/2020)
- Tested: The best HomeKit speaker and 4 alternatives (13-4-2020)
- In these 5 ways, iOS 13 makes HomeKit simpler and more secure (6/8/2019)
- This is how you create Zones in the Home app, and you can do this with it (3/31/2019)