Last checked: October 13, 2026.
Apple Home is the smart home platform built into every iPhone. It is one of the safest bets in this tracker, mostly because so much of it runs on your own home network instead of a company server.
Why 97%
- Starting point94%A tech giant that is clearly staying in smart home.
- Track record−1Forced everyone onto a new version of Apple Home in 2026 and stopped iPads working as home hubs.
- Works without the cloud+4Accessories run on your own home network, and Matter gives you a way out.
- Our estimate97%
Apple is not going anywhere, Apple Home works without a subscription, and it supports Matter, the shared standard that lets devices move between Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung apps. If Apple ever dropped the Home app tomorrow, your Matter gear could move to another app.
What could still break
Apple does retire old tech on its own schedule. On February 10, 2026, it ended support for the old version of Apple Home. Homes had to move to the new version, iPads stopped working as home hubs, and devices too old to run iOS 16.2 lost access to the Home app. Nothing stopped working for people who upgraded, but it shows that “it works today” is not the same as “it works forever”.
If you use Apple Home
- Make sure your home is on the new Apple Home version (the Home app will tell you if it is not).
- Use an Apple TV 4K or HomePod as your home hub, so automations and remote access keep working.
- When you buy new accessories, pick ones with Matter or Thread. They work in Apple Home and give you a way out later.