iOS 27 for Apple Home, Hue Bets on Thread, and IFA at a Glance

Five weeks in one roundup: iOS 27 brings Thread 1.4, 4K recording, and an Energy tab to the Home app, and from IFA we've picked out the highlights, led by Hue's move to Thread. Homey is also saying goodbye to HomeKit, Matter 1.6.1 switches light groups in sync, and the Hue Bridge Pro is getting pricier. Plus a look at Apple's rumored plans for October 13, a video on iOS 27, and a tip about your home hub.

No Home Devices at Apple's Event, but iOS 27 Brings Thread 1.4

Apple's September 9 event brought new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, but no Home devices. The bigger changes arrived on September 14 with iOS 27 in the Home app. Apple TV HD and the first-generation Apple TV 4K do not get tvOS 27.

• Apple Home now supports Thread 1.4, which is meant to let Thread Border Routers from different brands form a single network.
• HomeKit Secure Video records in up to 4K with compatible cameras.
• A new Energy tab shows your power usage. Automations based on that usage are not available yet.
• AI summaries for cameras require at least a 2 TB iCloud+ plan. That plan covers one camera.

Philips Hue Bets on Matter over Thread for Its IFA Lineup

Philips Hue unveiled a whole range of new lights in early September, including a weatherproof outdoor OmniGlow lightstrip and a wall light module that brings Nanoleaf panels into the Hue app. According to Hueblog, all of the new lights support Matter over Thread alongside Zigbee.

Look for the Matter logo on the box. With a Thread Border Router such as a HomePod mini, you can add them straight to Apple Home without a Bridge. You choose Zigbee or Thread during setup. An update due later this year is supposed to let you run both at once.

IFA at a Glance: tado, FRITZ!, Aqara, SwitchBot, Govee, and Tapo

Heating: The second-generation tado Smart Thermostat X supports Matter over Thread and has a battery you recharge over USB-C. It costs €119.99 / around $140 on its own. FRITZ! is turning the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro into a Matter bridge that brings DECT devices such as the new Smart Thermo 303 into Apple Home. For now, this requires beta firmware.

Locks: Aqara showed two locks, the U250 and the U600, with Matter over Thread and Home Key support. Pricing has not been announced. The SwitchBot Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo recognizes faces and palm veins, costs €339.99 / around $398, and connects to Apple Home over Matter through the included hub.

Lighting: Govee is launching the Sky Ceiling Light with Matter over Wi-Fi for €399.99 / around $468. Aqara announced five new Matter-over-Thread lights, including a floor lamp and outdoor string lights.

Cameras: Tapo showed its first Matter-certified cameras. Apple Home still does not support Matter cameras, though.

Looking Ahead: New Home Devices from Apple on October 13?

According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to unveil three Home devices on Tuesday, October 13: a new home hub with a display, a HomePod mini with a new chip, and a new Apple TV 4K. It is not yet clear whether Apple will hold an event or simply issue press releases. Apple has not confirmed anything so far.

Worth Watching: Everything New in iOS 27 for Apple Home

In about twelve minutes, Apple Home Authority walks through everything iOS 27 brings to Apple Home.

In Brief

Homey Says Goodbye to HomeKit

Homey is retiring its HomeKit Experiment. Since version 13.5.1, it can no longer be enabled on new setups, and once you turn it off, you cannot turn it back on. According to iphone-ticker, existing setups will keep working until March 2027. The Matter Bridge takes its place, but it requires a Homey Pro (2023) or later.

Matter 1.6.1 Switches Light Groups in Sync

The CSA has released the Matter 1.6.1 specification. It makes Groupcast official: a single command reaches an entire group, so lights switch together instead of one after another. Door chimes also get their own mute and volume controls. Nothing changes in Apple Home until Apple adopts the specification.

Hue Bridge Pro Gets Pricier

Signify has raised the price of the Hue Bridge Pro in its German store to €149.99 / around $175. It previously cost €99.99 / around $117 and launched at €89.99 / around $105.

Tip of the Week: Which Home Hub Runs Your Home?

The Apple TV HD and the first-generation Apple TV 4K don't get tvOS 27. The new camera AI features, however, require a home hub running tvOS 27 or HomePod software 27. To see which devices fill that role in your home, open the Home app and go to Home Settings → "Home Hubs & Bridges".