Apple Home runs automations and remote access through a home hub, which today means a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K on your network. Without one, accessories only respond while your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi, and HomeKit Secure Video cameras cannot record. Apple is expected to announce a new smart home hub with a touchscreen on October 13, along with a HomePod mini 2 and a new Apple TV 4K, and every pick here should carry over since they all use Matter, Thread, or native HomeKit rather than anything tied to a specific hub model.
Native HomeKit accessories were certified by Apple and often expose extras like HomeKit Secure Video, Home Key, and Adaptive Lighting that Matter does not yet carry. Matter accessories pair with a QR code and also work in Alexa and Google, but can lose features such as energy readings or camera support in the Home app. Our rule is native HomeKit for cameras, locks, and thermostats, and Matter for plugs, bulbs, and sensors.
Thread is the low power mesh radio behind the Eve and Aqara sensors in this list, and it is far more responsive than Wi-Fi for battery devices. It only works if you own a Thread border router, which today is the HomePod mini, the second generation HomePod, or the Wi-Fi 6E Apple TV 4K. The reported HomePod mini 2 and new Apple TV 4K are expected to include Thread as well, so Thread devices are the safest purchase ahead of the event.
Zigbee accessories from Philips Hue, Aqara, and Lutron each need their own bridge, and each bridge is a one time purchase that makes dozens of cheap accessories appear in Apple Home. Spreading across three bridges works but adds apps and a shelf of pucks. Most homes are happiest with Lutron for switches, Hue for bulbs, and one Aqara hub for sensors, with Thread Matter devices filling the gaps. See /best/best-smart-home-hubs-2026 for the hub comparison.
Cameras that support HomeKit Secure Video send clips to iCloud encrypted, analyze motion on your home hub, and tag faces from your Photos library without a camera subscription. Any iCloud+ plan covers one camera, the 200GB tier covers five, and the 2TB tier is unlimited. Check the HSV label specifically, since many cameras list HomeKit support but only stream live video to the Home app.
Home Key puts a digital key in the Wallet app so an iPhone or Apple Watch unlocks the door with a tap, even with a dead battery through Express Mode. Only a handful of locks support it, including the Aqara U100, Schlage Encode Plus, and Level Lock+. A lock that just lists HomeKit will work with Siri and automations but not with a tap. More options at /best/best-smart-locks-2026.
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