There are still no signs of an Apple smart display — but that doesn’t mean Apple has written off the smart home. Far from it. Apple Home (sometimes called Apple HomeKit) is one of the most popular smart home platforms alongside Google Home and Alexa, and it supports an impressive list of gadgets. Locks, light bulbs, switches, thermostats, and more can all be controlled remotely with Apple Home, making it a popular platform for folks already working in the Apple ecosystem.
Setting up automations is easy with Apple Home, allowing you to trigger complicated actions or toggle multiple devices from your iPhone with a single button press. However, not all smart devices work with Apple Home. Alexa and Google Home are quite popular, and you’ll find heaps of first party devices (like the Echo Show and Nest Hub) that make it a robust choice for nearly all shoppers. And when it comes to third-party products, both are heavy featured.
The Apple Home catalog, by comparison, is a bit smaller. However, it’s a “quality over quantity” type of situation, as the products that work with Apple Home are typically top-of-the-line. To help you find the most useful items on the market, here’s a look at the best Apple Home devices of 2025.
Lighting
The Nanoleaf Matter A19 is arguably the best option for Apple Home. You can create schedules using Apple Home, and there’s even an option for screen mirroring if you use the bulbs in conjunction with the Nanoleaf Desktop App. Of course, you’ll also get access to millions of colors, tons of customization options, and support for Matter — allowing you to sync it with devices beyond Apple Home.
Smart plugs and switches
Smart plugs let you control devices you plug into them (think lamps, holiday lights, or even appliances), essentially turning “non-smart” devices into smart ones. The Wemo Smart Plug with Thread from Belkin lets you control a plugged-in device with your voice or phone when connecting it to Apple HomeKit. If you want to replace an entire outlet (both top and bottom), then check out the Connectsense Smart Outlet 2. You’ll also get a lot of information about how much energy your devices are using through the Connectsense app. This plug also works with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Thermostats
If you want a premium smart thermostat, it’s hard to beat the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium. Offering support for Apple Home, the ability to automatically adjust the temperature based on your preferences and who’s currently home, and the ability to send air quality alerts, it’s a well-rounded device. It can even double as a base station and keypad for Ecobee Smart Security systems — a versatile trick not often employed in this segment.
Honeywell’s Lyric T6 Pro thermostat is HomeKit-compatible as well, and it’s a very cost-effective option. The T6 Pro is an upgrade to one of our old top choices, Honeywell’s Lyric T5. It has features like geofencing, scheduling, and smart alerts. Adaptive auto-recovery makes it so the thermostat knows how long it takes to heat or cool your home to your desired temperature at specific times, and the thermostat can also auto-change from heat to cool.
Locks
HomeKit doesn’t have the largest selection of smart locks, but that doesn’t really matter when you have something as well-rounded as the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Not only does it offer full HomeKit support, but you’ll even gain access to Apple Home keys — allowing you to unlock your door with your iPhone or Apple Watch. There’s also the standard keypad for entering a passcode, along with a fingerprint sensor that can store several dozen fingerprints (so your whole family can enter the home without worrying about forgetting their password or smartphone).
A physical key is included for emergency access, and the smart lock is designed to run for up to eight months before you’ll need to replace its batteries. Other standout features include “Do Not Disturb Mode,” auto-locking, and an IP65 rating to help it withstand whatever nature throws its way.
The Schlage Encode Plus is another solid option. This lock includes all of the latest HomeKit features, including Apple Home key support. Of course, you still have access to a physical key lock and touchscreen support. The Encode Plus also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant while having full HomeKit and Siri support. The lock is pretty expensive at $299, but if you want a lock with all of Apple’s secure HomeKit features and a host of other features, Schlage’s Encode Plus is currently your only route.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is still a great choice for one of the best smart locks and makes it possible for you to do things like track who is coming and going, give access to specific people, or lock and unlock your door remotely. Plus, it attaches to your existing deadbolt, so you don’t have to get a new set of house keys. In addition to being compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, it’s also compatible with Apple HomeKit, too. You can check out our full review of the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.
You could also spring for the Yale Assure Lock 2, which comes in a variety of designs — including a few models that give you remote access to your front door via Wi-Fi. Our review found it to be a premium smart lock that’s more than worth its hefty price tag. If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem, consider springing for the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Apple Home Keys, as it works not just with HomeKit, but also supports Home Keys — allowing you to unlock your door with a tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Cameras and security devices
Logitech’s Circle View is a smart choice if you’re focused on personal privacy with features such as an electronic shutter. It’s weatherproof, easy to set up, and has some pretty decent free features, like 24-hour cloud storage and smart alerts with snapshots. It also has an impressive view radius of 180 degrees. Some of the more advanced features, like person detection and motion zones, require a paid subscription (after a 10-day free trial).
Eufy also has a range of affordable indoor and outdoor cameras that work flawlessly with HomeKit Secure Video. Another great part is that you don’t need a subscription to use these cameras either. Check out Floodlight Cam 2 Pro to get the best of the company’s offerings. Keep in mind that if you want to stream a HomeKit-enabled camera remotely, you need a HomePod Mini, an Apple TV 4K, or Apple TV (4th generation).
Apple HomeKit supports other security devices outside of just cameras. Eve and Aqara create complete lines of various sensors to place around and monitor your home. For example, Eve has a door and window sensor, a motion sensor, and a room sensor that monitors temperature and air quality. Aqara also has low-cost sensors, including a water-leak sensor, temperature and humidity sensor, and a vibration sensor, to name a few.
A/V devices
Whether you’re a music fanatic or cinephile, you can use an Apple HomePod mini to expand your at-home A/V experience. For starters, the HomePod mini is an excellent way to listen to your favorite playlists. The speaker’s sound is surprisingly room-filling for its size and includes Thread connectivity to help with your other smart home accessories. Purchase multiple HomePod minis, and you can pair them together to create 360-degree stereo sound.
If you’re willing to drop a bit more cash, you can snag the new HomePod 2023 for $299. It offers everything found in the HomePod mini, although you’ll be treated to radically improved audio. Thanks to its larger footprint, the HomePod manages to pack in a high-excursion woofer, a beamforming array of five tweeters, and supports Spatial Audio and Room sensing to optimize its performance regardless of where you place it. In other words, the HomePod is a massive upgrade over the HomePod mini and is perfect for creating room-filling sound.
For home-theater hounds, the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K is a fantastic way to bring HomeKit to your media cave. The streaming device delivers crystal-clear 4K HDR and features Siri support. In cases where you may need a smart bridge to control your HomeKit devices, the Apple TV can do that.
Look for Matter
Matter, a new interoperability standard for smart home gadgets, has rolled out to hundreds of devices over the past few years. Apple is one of the biggest companies on board with the technology, meaning HomeKit devices are now compatible with devices that support Matter. In other words, the small HomeKit catalog has grown much larger thanks to Matter. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled when shopping, as you may find that products outside the Apple ecosystem are the best fit for your home.
