Spring 2024 - Which Apple Home products are a good buy?

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:33 TV area upgrades
03:16 HomeKey Locks
03:42 Opal Tadpole (sponsor)
05:41 HomeKey Locks continued
07:38 Apple Home Buttons
09:50 Robot Vacuums
10:52 Outdoor smart home tech
12:19 Indoor HomeKit Camera
12:55 Sensors to add
14:51 Monitor your energy

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- This video and all of Eric Welander's channel is a production of E. Welander, LLC

[ThemelisPikos]

Might have to start investing in some of those buttons. I need manufacturers to go all in on Thread already. WiFi smart home devices begone!

[grahamwalker]

I didn’t hear you tell us what’s your favorite smart lock was for the home. I heard you mentioned that you were going to, but never heard anything more about it later in the video so my question is what is the best?

[zagohcap]

I've found that the best Apple Home product is just Home Assistant. The best Homekit camera is Scrypted. I have 3 Reolink PoE color night cameras hooked up to an NVR AND Homekit Secure video. Best of both worlds and beyond any official HKSV camera. I wish there was a lever lock Homekey lock too. Zero options currently.

[John-Smith-]

I'm really excited for Matter to bring new device categories to Apple Home users in the coming years! I only purchase smarthome products that work with Thread, and I do not purchase anything that requires an additional hub. All of my smarthome products connect to my HomePods / HomePod Minis / Apple TVs using Thread! Will security cameras (indoor/outdoor/doorbell) ever work with Thread?

[JohnSmith-sbsh]

Do you recommend a particular carbon monoxide sensor that works with HomeKit?

[steveliberty]

I think the smart outlets from Eve and others will be really nice upgrades in my home. Using smart plugs is fine, but this will be neater and take up less space when behind furniture. I have a Level Bolt smart lock currently, and really like it, but it doesn't support HomeKey. Level makes another lock that does support HomeKey, but it doesn't include the keypad like the Schlage (I have a Level Keypad seperatly on the door). Not sure I like the physical size of the Schlage. Although integrating the keypad does sort of justify it. But, I might just use an NFC tag to open and close my existing Level Bolt. I do have a couple of non-Homekit non-Matter devices and I would like to replace them so that I can get rid of Scripted. One is my Ring Video Doorbell. Will consider maybe the Logitech or something else that supports Homekit natively or Matter when I am ready. I also have an outdoor camera in my garage in the Northeast US that needs Scripted but I think I will be able to retire that one without replacing when I move later this year to the Southeast US. Already have the Aqara Door/Window sensor, and the Tuo button, both are great.

[odc]

I bought two of the Tuo switches to work with HomeKit. Both were a pain to configure and neither worked for more than a couple hours. Returning them to Amazon.

[Aidan-tuun]

For the benefit of your international viewers, when you review smart sockets, please can you check if the manufacturer makes versions that can be used with, say, euro plugs or UK plugs…

[garanceadrosehn]

The first smarthome improvement I'm going to do in 2024 is to try to improve the networking inside my house. I know it's going to be the first thing because I've already bought a new Unifi gateway but haven't installed it yet. I have also come to the conclusion that the layout of my house is such that I need a second wifi access point to get good coverage everywhere, but I haven't ordered that yet. I also want to wire up at least one smart camera outside the house, with the noble goal of trying to watch the chickadees coming-and-going in the winter months (which is when I put birdseed out for them)..
After that I'll probably go for a new HomePod. I have one HomePod Mini in m downstairs office, but I want to move that upstairs and then get a full-fledged HomePod for the office.

[truckerlife]

I wish there was just 1 brand of home security I could buy and go crazy. I hate having a bunch of different products to use homekit

[TerraMagnus]

I’m liking the Yale Assure Lock 2. No mechanical keyhole to pick. And it’s convenient to open with Apple Watch or iPhone. My only misgiving is that it’s Bluetooth instead of Matter over Thread.

[BrandonDoyleMN]

We love our Schlage encode plus, will be testing the aqara, u-tec and the new lockly visage

[pfmmcci]

Nice call on the Nanoleaf lightstrips! Those colors really bring the wow factor

[sneymom]

For goodness sake can HK ( I have soooo many apps already one more is insanity) update the UI to allow for light temperature and color setting entry directly and not the ridiculous circle dot drag…….

[Dr_Cole]

Great video, Eric. I love the 2024 considerations shortly after CES. To me, CES was a bit of a let down on new tech for the SmartHome vs. advancements to existing tech. Nevertheless, I think all of us can find something in here that we’ll want to upgrade/add this year.

[kclaxton]

What’s the best option for a mesh WiFi routers for my HomeKit home

[roberto.gallegos]

Can you use the opal with Apple TV with face time

[lorenipsum]

I've always wondered, why aren't there any smart locks that lock both the deadbolt and the handle? probably because of all the different handle variations there are.

[AdamBusuttil]

I fell for the Apple air play 😢😂 I have a question to you know if there are any refrigerators that support Apple HomeKit ??

[nicolascostao]

Is there any smart lock for a glass sliding door that also works with HomeKit? It seems no body is making these