Eero 6 and Pro 6 Routers Gain HomeKit Support

[MacRumors]

Eero today released an iOS app update that includes new firmware for its Eero 6 and Pro 6 routers, introducing HomeKit support.

HomeKit support for the Eero 6 allows the routers to be managed through the Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In the Home app, there are options to define how routers are able to communicate within the home and via the internet.

With HomeKit integration, Eero 6 owners can opt to firewall off HomeKit accessories to prevent them from communicating with other WiFi devices on a home network and untrusted internet services, preventing hacking attempts and offering better security for connected home devices.

Prior Eero routers have included HomeKit integration, so today's update simply adds the functionality to the Eero 6 and Pro 6, which are Eero's WiFi 6 router options.

The Eero 6 and Pro 6 can be purchased from the Eero website starting at $129.

(Thanks, Varun!)

Article Link: Eero 6 and Pro 6 Routers Gain HomeKit Support

 

[bgro]

Nice just bought these a month ago! Nice unexpected suprise

 

[goobot]

Wish Apple would release these features on their own routers.

 

[Macintosh IIvx]

Seems like a decent setup. Always looking for setups that offer HomeKit.

 

[mashdots]

Wish Apple would release these features on their own routers.

I wish apple still made routers.

Eero was really interesting to me until i found out amazon acquired them.

 

[goobot]

I wish apple still made routers.

Eero was really interesting to me until i found out amazon acquired them.

There was a rumor recent that they are working on them again

 

[Macintosh IIvx]

Wish Apple would release these features on their own routers.

Apple hasn't made routers for 5 years now. I loved the AirPorts but Apple wasn't the right one for wifi routers. You want someone that's going to stay on top of things and stay with the new features. Apple never did that. Theirs were usually behind the times.

 

[J___o___h___n]

Wish we could buy AirPorts again.

I’m using Google Nest WiFi at the moment and moving from Google to Amazon seems like going from bad to worse.

HomeKit support seems like a good step forwards though

 

[InLikeALion]

@mashdots Me too. I actually got Eero 6 Pro when they first came out, but after a week it borked it's setup and I wasted hours with customer service trying to resolve. Never allowed to escalate to higher level or offer to replace. I sent it back and got a great deal on Linksys Velop (wifi 6) 2 unit setup, and couldn't be happier. Shame really, but glad we're in a good way now.

That being said, I'd love HomeKit support to to come to most of these Alexa / Google utilities.

 

[McScooby]

Things like this have to be welcomed, & I see that the set-up app has 2FA on it, but should it not just support sign in with apple also?
I always hate how to use a device you have to download an app first & provide your deets.

 

[munpip214]

I tried out the homekit router features on the last eero and didn't have great success. Lots of devices ended up being "No response" even when I set them to no restrictions. And when I tried re-adding a device to homekit router securely, some weren't able to add at all. It needs to be easy and problem free to be secure. Otherwise no one is going to do this.

 

[DekuBleep]

Wow that is cool. Are these the only routers that currently have homekit integration?

 

[symphony1010]

What some of us would like is for routers to address what the Airport Express did and send music to legacy speakers and amps via Airplay 2. Do these models do that?

 

[Think|Different]

For some reason everyone wants to talk about 8 year old, discontinued hardware getting this feature, whereas there’s a lot to say about what this article is about — I very much looked forward to this update on the last gen Eero. Unfortunately, it lasted about 2 days on before I disabled it due to way too many bugs I encountered on my local network and smart devices, all which I do manage natively with Home/HomeKit. Come to find out, I wasn’t alone and a lot of others had weirdness with HomeKit enabled routers. Anyway, I upgraded to the Eero Pro 6 and knew this update was coming but can’t exactly say I’m going to rush to revisit it so quickly.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Apple hasn't made routers for 5 years now. I loved the AirPorts but Apple wasn't the right one for wifi routers. You want someone that's going to stay on top of things and stay with the new features. Apple never did that. Theirs were usually behind the times.

Consumer routers are also really low margin. Apple tends to stay out of low margin product lines.

I think Apple released AirPort when there were no good user friendly all-in-one wireless routers available, but there needed to be something for Apple to fulfil it's wireless vision. In other words, they released it as a product necessary for selling other products, but not to be a revenue-generating line on it's own. But today, there are a whole ton at many different price points and most of them are good enough from a user friendliness and reliability standpoint.

 

[goobot]

Apple hasn't made routers for 5 years now. I loved the AirPorts but Apple wasn't the right one for wifi routers. You want someone that's going to stay on top of things and stay with the new features. Apple never did that. Theirs were usually behind the times.

3 years

 

[MrPresident]

I wish apple still made routers.

Eero was really interesting to me until i found out amazon acquired them.

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t touch Amazon technology due to their privacy record.

I love my Airport Express and have two of the time capsules. They work perfectly.

 

[Dark enV]

I’m hoping this means the linksys Wifi 6 models will be getting homekit support soon as well. I just bought AX4200 model for my house and I debated on the Eero as well but Costco had a great deal to get the 2 pack AX4200 for $250 so I went with that instead.

 

[mashdots]

There was a rumor recent that they are working on them again

don't play with my emotions

 

[PsykX]

Eero was really interesting to me until i found out amazon acquired them.

Same thoughts.

Since I wanted a Wi-Fi 6 router, the only choice left was to buy a Linksys MX5300.
But I'm still waiting for my Linksys to have HomeKit Support... They always said they would support it one day.

 

[InLikeALion]

I’m hoping this means the linksys Wifi 6 models will be getting homekit support soon as well. I just bought AX4200 model for my house and I debated on the Eero as well but Costco had a great deal to get the 2 pack AX4200 for $250 so I went with that instead.

I had the Eero 6 Pro, had them essentially brick out, and got that same Costco 2 pack deal. I've been VERY satisfied with the performance and experience for the past few months.

 

[Eorlas]

looking forward to the first of these mesh devices that goes 6e. will likely upgrade the orbi system at the business when that happens

 

[hybrid_x]

Is it possible to firewall them off from phoning home to Amazon?

And what is it with these mesh routers having such a bare minimum of Ethernet ports? Not having Ethernet on the satellite units really limits their usefulness.

 

[goobot]

don't play with my emotions

Here

 

[bigboy29]

My thoughts exactly. I wouldn’t touch Amazon technology due to their privacy record.

I love my Airport Express and have two of the time capsules. They work perfectly.

Except - eero is run by the eero team; I have been on Beta for eero for years (for last two generations) - this is for both hardware and software. Eero team retains full control of the data and there is no collection of your browsing on the service side. In fact, that was one of conditions of acquisition.

After all of the interactions that I had with eero team over the years as well as how transparent they are with community on eero Subreddit (both the CEO and main eero dev are active there) - I am very comfortable with staying with eero.

Also - yes, I have network traced and Pihole logged eero requests on the network because well - that is what I wanted to do. Eero 'calls home' only in the sense that it has a network hearbeat check and has to have a connection for network management (as network is managed via the app).

Now - I do not know how Google handles this in their WiFi setup, but I have no concerns with eero regarding this as of yet.