Apple is dropping hints about upcoming smart home disruption

For years we in CNET Smart Home you’ve heard the mantra “Matter will make everything right” — about the tangled mess of smart home compatibility and the Matter connectivity standard to come to the rescue. That hasn’t quite happened yetlargely because the fix involves a complex overhaul of existing smart home protocols from hundreds of companies. But now Apple is making a small move that could herald a huge step forward for its own foray into smart home technology.

In an an interview to Matter with The Verge, Vivid Siddha, director at Apple and president of the smart devices organization A group of threadsanswers questions about interesting updates that iPhones are getting from 2023. here and the great significance that heralds this “Thread radio”.

Apple and Thread are getting cozy

The Thread and Matter standards often go hand-in-hand, with Thread acting as a special high-security connection for lower-powered smart home devices and Matter being the “language” that goes through Thread. The problem is that most control devices (like phones, tablets, or computers) still can’t connect directly to Thread and must jump through Wi-Fi hoops instead.

Recent on Apple iPhone changes — changes that Google also makes to its devices — enabling Thread radio frequency support. This allows iPhones and possibly iPads and so on to connect directly to smart home devices with a built-in Thread border router. If you have a newer iPhone. He can do it now.

What Thread Radio means for Apple’s home plans

While this Thread support may sound a little puzzling, it enables four very important benefits for the modern smart home and Apple users:

1. With thread-enabled devices, you won’t need an extra hub or even Wi-Fi router to connect with smart home sensors, lights, locks, etc. This is both easier and saves time.
2. Thread includes various security protections that make it safer to use than routing commands over Wi-Fi.
3. When Thread and Matter need to be “translated” through a Wi-Fi router or similar gadget, their devices may lose functionality. This can include specific features, automations and home routine selection from apps like Apple Home. With a direct Thread connection, more automations and features are enabled.
4. While your smart home devices are powered by batteries, etc., you can still control them via a Thread connection. So if your power goes out and your Wi-Fi doesn’t work, you can still open compatible smart locks and whatnot, as long as you have your iPhone with you.

Should I Prepare for Apple Smart Home Devices?

something like. You should definitely prepare for smart devices with Matter and Thread support, which will hopefully go much further in 2025 and it should have that Apple Home compatibility. But Apple has a lot more in store—you’ll just have to wait a bit.

This year, as early as spring, expect Apple to launched its first smart displayessentially a HomePod with touch screencreated to compete with Echo broadcasts and Nest Hubs as a way to control various smart home devices. There are also rumors wall mounted smart home display will be available.

Later in 2025, Apple will reportedly launch other devices to round out its smart home ecosystem, including HomePod Mini 2 and an upgraded Apple TV.

Watch for Apple’s leap into home security next year with Apple’s own security camera. Also note that matter compatibility has become common of smart locks from Schlage, Lockly, Aqara, and other brands, so the Apple Home app will likely be able to connect directly to the latest Thread-supported devices from those brands by then.

The bottom line? In the next few years, Apple will come for your smart home. The groundwork has already been laid with small changes like these, and now the company is starting to be more open about its plans for direct, simpler control from everyday devices like the iPhone. We’re ready to see how it pans out.