HomeKit Weekly

To me, e-ink is one of the most underappreciated technologies in the world today. I love my Kindle Paperwhite. I really wish Apple made e-ink devices. However, SwitchBot has officially entered this market with the new SwitchBot Weather Station. It combines an E-ink screen, iCloud calendar syncing, and Matter-compatible environmental sensors into a single device.

One constant on my desk for a few years now has been the Qingping Air Monitor Lite. When a device can look awesome, but also provide some really cool data for your Apple Home environment, it’s going to be a must-have.

E-ink technology is typically found in devices like the Amazon Kindle, and it is also a critical feature of the Qingping thermometer. I originally reviewed the Bluetooth version of this device a few years ago, but Qingping has since updated it with Thread support for Apple Home. I have been retesting it to see if it still holds up in 2026.

Fans are one of those categories where true innovation is kind of hard to find. Ultimately, it’s just there to cool things and circulate air. SwitchBot recently launched its new SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan, which caught my eye for its built-in battery and Matter (and therefore Apple Home) compatibility. Let’s take a closer look at what this portable fan actually offers and what you need to know before picking one up.

I have long joked to my family that if I were super rich, I would love to hire someone whose only job would be to hand me a large cup of coffee as soon as I walked out of my bedroom. Apple Home has not let me do that, but it gets me close.

A few years ago, I wrote a guide on automating my morning coffee using a SwitchBot button pusher and HOOBS. It required pulling API keys and MAC addresses just to get it communicating with Apple Home. The new SwitchBot Bot Button Pusher completely streamlines this process with native Matter support and a built-in rechargeable battery.

The challenge with HomeKit Secure Video is that the manufacturer sees no option for recurring revenue, so I suspect that might be part of the holdup for many new cameras (on top of the lack of new features). When Aqara originally released the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro with HomeKit Secure Video support back in 2025, it ended a long drought. I have had one outside for over a year now, and if you have a porch area, this is a great outdoor camera.

Today, SwitchBot has announced the new SwitchBot Lock Vision and Lock Vision Pro. For Apple Home users, these new locks support Matter over Wi-Fi out of the box, so you do not need to buy one of these SwitchBot hubs to connect them, but you only need an Apple TV or HomePod. Let’s take a closer look at what these new smart locks offer and don’t

Smart buttons have become incredibly common in the Apple Home ecosystem, but finding one that checks every single box is still surprisingly challenging at times. The new Airversa QliQ immediately caught my attention because it addresses two of my biggest complaints about most smart switches: it uses a Thread connection instead of Bluetooth, and it ditches disposable coin batteries for a rechargeable one. Let’s take a closer look at what it brings to the table and see if its premium hardware features justify the purchase.

When Aqara first announced the Camera Hub G350, the headline that caught my eye was the claim that it is the first Matter-certified camera on the market. Matter, while not perfect, is a huge part of what I want out of the smart home industry: freedom from vendor lock-in. Let’s take a look at the new Aqara Camera Hub G350 and see how it works with Matter and HomeKit.

When Aqara announced the Doorbell Camera G400 supported Power over Ethernet, it immediately caught my attention. PoE isn’t for everyone, but if you want it, you’ll likely ignore any option that doesn’t include it. Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 is great as a fallback, but absolutely nothing beats the 24/7 stability of wired cable. The Aqara Doorbell Camera G400 delivers that stability, along with local AI detection and a tall aspect ratio designed to spot packages. Let’s break down exactly what this doorbell brings to Apple Home users.

Xthings recently released the Ulticam IQ V2, touting it as the first Matter-certified AI security camera. It boasts an impressive list of features that includes Power over Ethernet, 4K resolution, and some nice Google Gemini AI integrations. Let’s take a closer look at what the Ulticam IQ V2 brings to the table and whether it is worth betting on future software updates.

Aqara just released the new Aqara W200 Thermostat Hub, featuring Matter 1.4 support and native integration with Apple’s new Adaptive Temperature functionality. These additions make it a compelling alternative to Nest for anyone wanting deep, system-level control within Apple Home.

Whenever my family goes out of town, we have a dog sitter come by to check on our dogs. One challenge I always have is showing guests how to use our smart home. For our Level Lock Pro, I find it easier to just give them a fob or a physical key, since sharing a Home Key outside an iCloud family account is still a hassle. While sharing access to lights is possible, I find it much easier to use a product like the Onvis Smart Button instead.

It is spring 2026, and that magical time of year when the sun is shining, the grass is growing, and flowers bloom. We are heading into near-perfect weather. Spring in the southern US generally brings plenty of showers. It will not be long until the brutal summer heat arrives, with 97 degrees, 90% humidity, full sun, and no rain in the forecast.

Winning against the brutal summer heat with your plants requires a strong foundation right now, and getting them plenty of water consistently is the absolute key to survival. I have generally opposed professionally installed irrigation systems due to the upkeep required. I have long used the Eve Aqua instead. It is a great way to quickly deploy a maintenance-free, Apple Home-enabled sprinkler system.

Aqara just announced two major additions to its smart home security lineup today. They have released the Camera Hub G350, which is the company’s first Matter-certified camera, along with the Doorbell Camera G400. I always look forward to seeing what Aqara does next, as they have been a great way to build out a low-cost smart home for years. These two devices bring so many needed features to the Apple Home ecosystem.

Choosing a smart plug usually feels like a gamble on which protocol will win the war. Belkin recently ended support for its Wemo line as well. Shelly has apparently decided to stop gambling and just include everything. I’ve been testing the Shelly Plug US Gen4, and it’s great! It supports Matter, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and, in a rare move for a smart home device, Wi-Fi 6. It also includes precise power metering, a feature I think is awesome for a modern smart plug.

Air purifiers are one of my favorite HomeKit accessories. Even though I live in an area with pretty decent air quality, I keep them running in our home to help clean the air for my family, especially in the spring. The problem is that most of them look like medical equipment. I love the Smartmi E1, and it effectively ends the era of ugly appliances. It is hands-down the best-looking HomeKit/Apple Home air purifier on the market.

I have been a Philips Hue user for a number of years. They are rock solid, but they aren’t cheap. Recently, one of the bulbs in my hallway finally gave up the ghost. Instead of dropping $45 on a replacement, I decided to look at what the “Matter era” has brought to the table in terms of Wi-Fi only bulbs. I found a Matter-native option that costs less than $10 per bulb. It connects directly over Wi-Fi, requires no hub outside of a HomePod/Apple TV, and works with Apple Home right out of the box.

Level has been building smart locks that feel like they were made for Apple users since the very beginning, and the new Level Lock Pro (affiliate link) might be its most exciting upgrade yet. I have been testing it ahead of my full hands-on review, and it is clear that this is the direction smart locks need to go. Home key support is still the gold standard for Apple users, and Matter over Thread brings the speed and reliability that make it work extremely well with your daily schedule. The only thing it’s missing is UWB support.

I have tested dozens of smart locks over the years for HomeKit Weekly, from the August lock to the latest Level Lock Pro. They all solved the problem of having to fish your keys out, but they never quite solved the problem of “my hands are full.” Even with Home Key, you’d still have to either get your Apple Watch to your lock or pull out your iPhone. Yes, plenty of locks offer various flavors of auto-unlock, but none are perfect and work 100% of the time. That is the problem Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology aims to solve. This week, I am taking a deep look at the Aqara UWB Smart Lock U400.

When automating your smart home, much of the attention centers on cameras and lights, but I believe HomeKit door sensors are arguably among the most critical devices to add to your setup. I’ve written about Onvis before, but the Smart Security Alarm Contact Sensor (CS2) takes the concept of a simple door sensor and turns it into a lot more. It supports Thread, but the really cool add-on here is a 120dB siren built right into the sensor. Let’s take a look at the Onvis CS2.