Apple Confirms iPad Will No Longer Be Supported as a Home Hub in iOS 16

[MacFan23]

The ridiculously low number of features offered within HomeKit. Amazon is kicking their Apple core hole in the home automation market.

What is it that Amazon offers that HomeKit doesn't?

I bought in on the Google ecosystem because of comments like this, used it for a couple years and then gave up because of the lack of functionality. I ended up going to HomeKit and haven't looked back, I got a Starling Home hub to make use of my existing Google hardware, set up HomeBridge to bring in everything else and have been pretty happy to be honest. I'm always on the edge of setting up Home Assistant but just haven't found the need yet.

If the features of HomeKit are ridiculously low, what am I missing out on by not using Amazing's ecosystem?

 

[itsmesteven]

Do I have to buy an Apple product to make it work? If MATTER is now released this fall, can I not buy a MATTER hub from another manufacturer and have it act as Home Hub?

 

[koil]

I mean this is obviously not a great look that they are removing a feature they've made some people depend on, but it honestly never made sense to allow the portable iPad to be a HomeKit hub. Like it or not, but a device responsible for managing devices in a home should be a fixed device you are unlikely to remove from the network, and while iPads can technically be used like that, I doubt most users actually consider the implications of setting up the iPad as hub, and would guess that most just continue using the iPad like they always did.

 

[Captain_Mac]

This is GREAT for countries where the HomePod is not available for purchase /s
Seriously, now I have to buy a very outdated Apple TV HD or an expensive Apple TV 4K...

 

[klrobinson999]

Is this a precusor to getting a new, updated full-size Homepod or the Homepod/Apple TV combo? Why can't Apple release a dedicated hub with screen?

 

[MYZ]

It's likely not worth the extra complications of making a movable device function properly as a hub. Especially as Apple is likely planning on adding major features. I've tried using my 2018 iPad Pro as a home hub and it was noticeably less reliable than the HomePod.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

True, there are over 6 Billion people on the planet, but there is also over 8 Billion people on this planet too.

Sooon!

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And that will just be MORE people that don’t own Apple devices that are potentially part of those future users.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Do I have to buy an Apple product to make it work? If MATTER is now released this fall, can I not buy a MATTER hub from another manufacturer and have it act as Home Hub?

Thread/Matter won’t require hubs as Thread devices connect to the rest of your home network (and subsequently, the internet) through what’s called a Thread Border Router, which is a device that acts as a bridge between the Thread network and your home WiFi network. Unlike other bridges and hubs, though, Thread Border Routers can be built into other devices. The following products will, or are likely to, act as Matter-compatible Thread Border Routers: Amazon Echo (4th gen.) smart speakers; Apple HomePod Mini smart speakers; Apple TV 4K (2021) streaming devices; all Eero Beacon, Eero Pro, Eero Pro 6, and Eero 6 mesh WiFi routers; Google Nest Hub Max smart displays; Google Nest Hub (2nd gen.) smart displays; Google Nest WiFi routers; and all Nanoleaf Elements, Lines, and Shapes lighting products.

 

[svish]

Looks like Apple is forcing some to buy Apple TV or a HomePod mini! Not happy that iPad is losing support.

 

[salutcemoi]

I think Apple will make a Homepod with a screen

 

[fuchsdh]

Surely this will be a cause for returns/lawsuits if customers bought an iPad because of the home hub functionality? I recently told a friend to buy some Homekit accessories instead of Amazon/Google stuff because I said she could use her iPad as the hub. That completely ruins her purchase/choice if her iPad upgrades to iOS 16.

How many people are there? No doubt I get the appeal of using a device you have as the hub (or really just deciding to treat any arbitrary device, whether Mac, tablet, or HomePod as the hub) but it doesn't seem like people are actually purpose-buying iPads to serve as that.

I do feel like this suggests a screen-based HomePod is coming, though.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

An iPad has to be turned ON and/or plugged in to currently operate as a hub. Turn it off and hub capabilty goes away, unless it is plugged in. So the iPad was always just a so-so (at best) option for a hub seeing its limitations. If Apple was not willing to make it work while OFF and unplugged, then it really wasn’t that great of an option. I think a plugged in device that is always in the home is best for a hub, but I’m sure many others will start yelling for another class action lawsuit, as usual. If you want to complain at Apple, complain about the lackluster list of accessories that work well with HomeKit and the ridiculously low number of features offered within HomeKit. Amazon is kicking their Apple core hole in the home automation market.

This, this, this. This is a clear explanation that should be the end of the conversation.

 

[msackey]

I hope there will be a way to migrate my home setup on my iPad to another device like an Apple TV or homePod so that I don't have to re-setup everything for each room, scene, automation? Any one heard anything about this yet?

I don't think you'll need to re-setup everything because as I recall, HomeHub is connected to iCloud and those settings can move to a different device -- something like that.

I'm one of those who initially used my iPad Pro as a HomeHub, and this was years ago. When we finally bought an AppleTV (and this was because Netflix stopped supporting the Samsung device we use to watch streaming videos, a device which we bought in early 2000s) we switched the HomeHub from iPad Pro to AppleTV. I don't recall there being an issue. This was a while ago though.

 

[msackey]

So I’m not clear - is the HomeKit app itself won’t be useable on the iPad with iOS 16? Or it just can’t act as a hub anymore?

I let my son use the iPad to adjust lights’ colours in his room - he loves doing that.

I have HomePod mini and Apple TV so I'm not really impacted but if the HomeKit app itself is no longer accessible on the iPad, I won’t be updating it.

I think you can still use the HomeKit app. Just that the iPad would no longer serve to connect all the internet devices as it used to, if you upgrade the iPad to iOS.

HomeHub is essentially the "command center" (hardware) that internet devices such as lights, cameras, thermostats connect to, if you are using Apple's way of managing these types of devices.

Always wondered why my Mac Mini that never leaves my home & is always powered on can’t be my home hub??

Perhaps because they expect that computers would/could be shut off at some point?

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

And yet another reason why I stopped giving a crap about the iPad.

At this point the iPad is just gonna be a ProCreate machine with how much Apple's letting it's tablet languish.

 

[EntropyQ3]

Two reasons why the iPad was always an odd choice are, you ideally can’t take it out of the home and secondly it could run out of power and isn’t a great idea to leave it plugged in. I use my AppleTV for mine

I could argue against this (why does the hub functionality have to be grafted onto a speaker or a streaming/app/TV box, rather than just - a cheap hub? Do I have to care about the corner case that all my iDevices are discharged when I’m away from home? Isn’t this an ideal task for a pensioned iDevice? et cetera)
Rather, I’d prefer to argue against the hub concept, that functionality cannot be distributed. It’s not as though home automation takes much computing chops, and all the devices are obviously networked, so building the system around having a hub is a weakness in general. If that hub has any problem whatsoever, the system fails. Coordination through a graphical interface is going to require an active screen anyway Once it’s set up, exactly why does there have to be a hub at all?

 

[hagar]

what a stupid analogy lol. Music was one of the three orginal purposes for the iPhone, The number of people using Homekit with an iPad as their only home hub has to be less then .5% of iPad owners.

Have you counted them?

 

[nutmac]

I won’t spend at least $99 for a “hub”. I already have an alternative to an Apple TV (not better but pretty decent) and a way better sound system than a HomePod.
Maybe using an iPad as a hub it’s not the best option, but surely more than acceptable. Apple should reconsider this…

But iPads just aren't consistently dependable as a Home hub. HomeKit takes a lot of flak for reliability and responsiveness as it is.

Both HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) have Thread radio, and Home hub and HomeKit Secure Video can better leverage S5/A12's efficiency cores and Neural Engine. Compared to my past experiences with iPad, original HomePod, and older Apple TV, I am getting more responsive and reliable operation with these new hardware.

I suppose Apple can raise the Home hub requirements on the iPad, that it must have certain generations of processor and be plugged in. But the later is just awkward. For me, an ideal compromise would be to allow desktop Macs to become a Home hub, although they too lack Thread. HomeKit is strictly in a maintenance mode as Apple focuses and transitions to Matter, which requires Thread, along with Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi.

 

[dtremit]

Thread/Matter won’t require hubs as Thread devices connect to the rest of your home network (and subsequently, the internet) through what’s called a Thread Border Router, which is a device that acts as a bridge between the Thread network and your home WiFi network. Unlike other bridges and hubs, though, Thread Border Routers can be built into other devices.

You keep saying this, but I do not think it means what you think it means.

Thread Border Routers take the place of device-specific hubs like the Hue Hub for Hue lightbulbs, or the IKEA TRÅDFRI hub for their smart devices, which facilitate connections to low power or non-IP-based devices like sensors and lights. Those proprietary hubs will not be necessary for Matter-compliant devices.

It does not substitute for a Home Hub in HomeKit; you still need a supported Apple device to run unattended automations or to access HomeKit devices from outside the home. Which is to say — anything that requires a Home Hub today will still require a Home Hub for Matter devices.

This is because Matter is strictly a connectivity standard — focused on making certain categories devices speak common languages and protocols. There's nothing in Matter that facilitates automations or other high-level operations. (Certain device types, like cameras, are also not part of the initial spec.)

 

[Sphincty]

Surely this will be a cause for returns/lawsuits if customers bought an iPad because of the home hub functionality? I recently told a friend to buy some Homekit accessories instead of Amazon/Google stuff because I said she could use her iPad as the hub. That completely ruins her purchase/choice if her iPad upgrades to iOS 16.

No that just means your friend will be suing you.

 

[alexandr]

My experience using an iPad as a home hub, was so bad I got an ATV)

 

[Unregistered 4U]

It does not substitute for a Home Hub in HomeKit; you still need a supported Apple device to run unattended automations or to access HomeKit devices from outside the home. Which is to say — anything that requires a Home Hub today will still require a Home Hub for Matter devices.

This is because Matter is strictly a connectivity standard — focused on making certain categories devices speak common languages and protocols. There's nothing in Matter that facilitates automations or other high-level operations. (Certain device types, like cameras, are also not part of the initial spec.)

Folks locked in to HomeKit are still locked in to HomeKit, I was referring to how Thread, and the Thread Border Routers built into many devices, is described to work.

 

[SanderEvers]

I do see Apple making a new "AirPort Express" router that has HomeKit Hub capabilities built in and Mesh support.

But that might be just wishful thinking.

And honestly it's sad that they'd remove Hub support from the iPad, but it was indeed buggy as heck. Maybe it's for the best.

 

[UBS28]

It’s time for Apple to finally release an AppleTV Console Edition, along with a proper strategy a la AppleTV+ for AAA gaming, they have the silicon and the war chest to take on Sony & Microsoft.

The higher-end M1 configs have PS5 level graphics and they could unite from iPhone to Mac to TV the ecosystem.

No they don’t. The $499 Xbox Series X is 20% more powerful than the M1 Max, which costs $2000 in a Mac Studio.

Who is going to spend $2000 on a console that is weaker than the current gen with also less games available?

 

[UBS28]

I never understood the use of iPad acted as a home hub in the beginning. HomePod and Apple TV make more sense as they tend to be in home location and less likely to switch networks.

Some older iPads that you do not use anymore can be used this way.