The best part of home automation is being able to command the devices around you from the comfort of your chaise lounge. And now, Apple users can access more smart home products than ever with Apple HomeKit.
HomeKit still isn’t compatible with as many smart home brands as Amazon Alexa or Google Home yet, but there are still plenty of devices to choose from. From smart bulbs to Wi-Fi thermostats, here are the best Apple HomeKit-compatible devices.
With smart light bulbs, you can control the ambience of your home from your phone or by voice command. Here are the best smart bulbs that work with Apple HomeKit.
| Bulb | C by GE C-Life Bulb | Philips Hue White Smart Bulb | LIFX Mini Smart Bulb |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it looks like |
 |  |  |
| Price* | $19.61
| $14.98
| $19.97
|
| Requires hub? |  Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lumens | 800 | 800 | 650 |
| Learn more |
*Data effective 12/23/2019. Offers and availability subject to change.
With the C-Life bulb, GE offers a basic bulb that’s easy to integrate into your smart home. It’s a great fit if you’re looking for a functional and straightforward smart lighting system.
The bulb works over Bluetooth without a hub, but to use it with your Apple HomeKit, you’ll have to purchase the C-Reach Hub for about $50. Alternatively, you can purchase C by GE’s starter kit, which includes the hub and two bulbs for around $60. That’s a deal, especially considering that these bulbs can last up to 13 years.
Philips is a great choice if you intend to use multiple bulbs in rooms around your house. And while Philips Hue bulbs require a hub—the Philips Hue Bridge at $59.99—to work with Apple HomeKit, the two can work together to control up to 50 lights in your home without messing with your Wi-Fi network.
The LIFX Mini smart bulb is a little less bright—650 lumens is equivalent to about 50 watts—but it offers up to 25,000 hours of life and it’s energy efficient, using only eight watts. It’s also convenient and super affordable, since it doesn’t require the purchase of a separate smart hub like C by GE or Philips.
If you're still on the fence, compare Philips Hue vs. LIFX smart bulbs.
>>Curious about other lights? See the full list of smart bulbs HomeKit works with.
If you just bought a 12-pack of vintage-style Edison bulbs and you’re not ready to go smart, you have other options. For ceiling lights, consider the Lutron Caseta dimmer. It’s easy to install, replaces an existing light switch, and can control up to 17 bulbs. For table lamps, we recommend a smart plug like the Wemo Mini. It’s compact and works without a hub, and it connects to HomeKit automatically. You don’t even need the Wemo app to control it; you can do that through the Apple Home app.
| Camera | Arlo Baby Camera | Logitech Circle 2 | D-Link Omna Cam |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it looks like |  |  |
 |
| Price* | $142.00
| $114.99
| $129.99
|
| Two-way audio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
| Field of view | 130° | 180° | 180° |
| Night vision | Up to 15 ft. | Up to 15 ft. | Up to 16 ft. |
| Motion alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sound alerts | Yes |  No | No |
| Learn more |
If you have a little one to keep an eye on, Arlo’s baby cam has plenty of features. You can view both live and recorded videos, the two-way talk lets you comfort your baby from a different room, and the camera offers motion, sound, and air quality notifications.
If you want to stick with Arlo but you’re looking for a more general use camera, not to worry. The company announced in early 2019 that both the Arlo Pro 2 and the Arlo Ultra will be compatible with Apple HomeKit later this year.
The Logitech Circle 2 is a great camera for everyday use, with an expansive viewing angle up to 180° and up to 24 hours of free cloud storage. It’s pretty versatile too: it works indoors and outdoors, and it can be powered by battery or an AC adapter.
The D-Link Omna camera doesn’t have as many standout features as the Arlo Baby cam or the Logitech Circle 2. But it’s still an affordable option that offers the basics: crisp, high-definition playback; a wide viewing angle; and clear, two-way audio.
Apple is compatible with a handful of thermostats. You won’t be able to control your Nest Learning Thermostat with Siri, but that’s fine—the Ecobee4 is the next best thing.
| Thermostat | Ecobee4 | Honeywell Lyric T5 | Emerson Sensi Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it looks like |
 |
 |
 |
| Price* | $249.00
| $147.50
| $169.00
|
| Remote temperature sensor | Yes | No | No |
| Motion sensor | Yes | No | No |
| Geofencing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learn more |
The latest Ecobee smart thermostat is an intuitive and versatile smart thermostat. Its built-in motion sensor detects when your home is occupied and when it isn’t, so the thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature accordingly. Remote temperature sensors help manage rooms that run hot or cool and keep your house energy efficient.
We like the Honeywell Lyric T5 because it adjusts the temperature in your home according to your schedule with the help of geofencing. That way, it can warm up the house when you’re coming up your driveway in the winter, or cool down the house when you’re coming home from a long walk with your pup in the summer. It also lets you set schedules and control the temperature with voice commands.
The Emerson Sensi Touch has an old-school feel with modern functionality. It’s intuitive and easy to install, and it can save you money on your heating and cooling bills. It’s not the best smart thermostat out there, but it’s a fairly reliable one that covers the basics.
| Lock | August Smart Lock Pro | Schlage Sense | Yale Assure Lock SL |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it looks like |  |
 |
 |
| Price* | $229.99
| $229.00
| $236.84
|
| Auto-lock and unlock | Both | Auto-lock only | Auto-lock only |
| Local Bluetooth access | Yes | Yes | No |
| Remote access | Only with Connect hub | Available | Available |
| Learn more |
The August Smart Lock Pro is one of our favorite picks for smart door locks. It gets even better with the Connect hub, which lets you access the lock remotely. That way, you can choose who has access to your home, whether it’s your kids’ friends or your dog sitter.
The Schlage Sense isn’t as high tech or aesthetically pleasing as the August Smart Lock, but it still offers some valuable features.
You can access the lock via Bluetooth or voice command and set the door to automatically lock as quickly as 15 seconds after you close the door. You can also access the lock remotely with your Apple TV, but it has to be about 40 feet away from your lock.
The Yale Assure Lock is a more affordable option that allows you to lock and unlock your door by voice command or through the Apple HomeKit app. And like the Schlage Sense, the Yale Assure Lock gives you remote access too, but only if your lock is near your Apple TV.
As we mentioned earlier, Apple HomeKit has limited compatibility, particularly compared to leading smart hubs like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. That’s especially true when it comes to some of the more tried and true brands: Siri can’t connect with Nest—including the Nest Learning Thermostat, the Nest cameras, and the Nest doorbell—Ring, most of the Arlo security cameras, and more.
Still, one thing we like about Apple HomeKit is that if you have an Apple device, you can connect any compatible devices with the Home app. To get the most out of Google or Amazon, you have to purchase one of their smart speakers. But with Apple, you can make your iPad or your Apple TV your smart home hub.
If you’re an avid Apple user, using Apple HomeKit makes sense. You can use the technology you already have, like your iPad or your Apple TV, to automate the devices in your home and streamline your day-to-day life.
Still, Google’s and Amazon’s smart hubs are compatible with a lot more smart home brands. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive smart home experience, we recommend purchasing Amazon Echo or Google Home. You’ll be able to have much more versatility in creating an automated home that works for you.
>>See what smart home products work with Google Home.
>>See what smart home products work with Alexa.
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