HomeKit

HomeView is a brand-new smart home hub launched by Apple, through which users can uniformly control various accessories and interact with applications.

Apple's HomeKit Secure Video uses end-to-end encryption, with video analysis performed locally on a HomePod or Apple TV.

With the release of iOS 27 and tvOS 27, Apple Home introduced Apple Intelligence support.

HomeKit devices must pass Apple's MFi certification to connect, pairing data is managed locally and encrypted by the iOS device, and core features include scene automation, cross-device linkage and HomeKit Secure Video.

The HomeView is positioned as the smart hub of the home, rather than a simple extension of a tablet.

Apple is one of the main initiators of Matter, and its devices usually support HomeKit, Thread, and Matter at the same time.

Jony Ive previously led the design of iconic Apple products including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook.

HomeKit's shortcomings include high certification thresholds causing device variety and update speed to lag behind Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and long-limited cross-brand automation capabilities.

The core moat of Apple's streaming box lies in ecosystem integration such as AirPlay, Apple TV+, iCloud Photos and HomeKit, as well as the gaming and local playback capabilities brought by its A-series chips.

The problems HomeKit has long been criticized for include: high certification thresholds in the early days led to few compatible devices and relatively high prices, automation rule setup is cumbersome, and the Home app interface easily becomes crowded and chaotic as the number of devices increases.

AI video summary processing takes place entirely on-device; raw video is not uploaded to servers, and only the generated metadata (timestamps, text descriptions, encrypted face IDs) is synced to iCloud.

The Apple Home certification system (formerly HomeKit) requires third-party hardware to pass MFi certification, carry Apple-specified security chips or software authentication modules, and follow the HAP protocol.

HomeKit distinguishes two types of permissions, residents and guests: residents can add and remove devices and modify automations, while guests can only control authorized accessories.

HomeKit emphasizes local processing and end-to-end encryption, and many automation actions can be completed on the home hub device without going through the cloud.

HomeKit's high security policy has led to slow growth in the number of compatible devices and high onboarding costs for third-party manufacturers.

HomeView's most core feature selling point is controlling a large number of smart home devices and deeply integrating with the HomeKit ecosystem.

In the collaboration with LG and Schneider, Apple is responsible for the core HomeKit integration and software experience, while LG and Schneider provide support in hardware manufacturing and electrical infrastructure respectively.

HomeKit does not directly produce hardware; its core selling points are localized processing and privacy protection, and its limitation is that it is only a software standard layer with no hub screen of its own.

tvOS is the TV operating system developed by Apple for the Apple TV series, known for its app store ecosystem and deep coordination with iPhone, iPad, and AirPods, and supports AirPlay screen mirroring, Continuity, and HomeKit smart home hub functionality.

HomeView is a hub layer moved further up on top of HomeKit, with the goal of unifying scattered control entry points, application interactions, and cross-device linkage under a single interface.