The Hue app has remote access built into it, whilst the Home app requires a "HomeHub" device to access remotely. That's one easy reason straight off the top of my head. Plus, you know, Apple's software generally isn't the greatest for power users.
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Philips Hue App Gains Support for Widgets
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At this point, I'm not buying any smart home devices or items that aren't HomeKit or Matter compatible. I'll stick with Meross lightbulbs for the time being.
Oh man I think the dynamic scenes in the Hue app are pretty great though
I think you’ll find, HomeKit and Shortcuts is pretty darned good for anyone. I can’t think of a single thing HomeKit can’t do that Hue can. I won’t buy any product that doesn’t have HomeKit support. Keeping it simple.
Personally, I find having Nanoleaf and Meross more than makes up for having multiple hubs. In Australia, a Hue Homebridge is about AU$100. I can get a HomePod Mini and it plays music, has temperature and humidity as well as works as a HomeKit Hub, for $149.
But I guess this is what a lot of advertising and a lot of money get you.
Those who use the Home app must have simple setups. It is not as slow as it used to be, but it is still annoying. I use it to customize some buttons to control things outside the Hue ecosystem, like blinds.
These widgets will be handy for shutting off lights. Sure took Hue long enough to get with the new widget program.
These widgets will be handy for shutting off lights. Sure took Hue long enough to get with the new widget program.
Is it the App or is it the accessory? Every single time, whenever I do anything, it's immediate. If an accessory is using Bluetooth, or even wifi, it can take a while (regardless of whether it’s HomeKit, Google Hone or something else.). I only buy thread enabled accessories.
Every command is slower on my setup, but I could deal with that. The greatest issue is the UI. The Hue app will list all rooms with quick on/off switches. As will it for the home itself. Then there is also things like scheduling changes (with smooth transitions) or animations or controlling multiple schedules or disabling light sensors.
The Home app just seems to be in a permanent state where it is designed for someone with less than 10 smart lights.
you cant control hue dynamic light features with the home app. i failed in trying this
1. No delay here at all. Instant. It does depend on Your wifi / Zigbee channel setup. Keep them well apart. Also keep 1 Apple TV 4K Ethernet as the home hub by having it on the Beta. And turn off Auto update on the others. It will always use the hub with the latest OS.
2. That makes no sense at all. You can fire off any scene in homekit already. Just run it and save as a Homekit scene. Home doesn’t activate animations, but you can do that via shortcuts if you want.
3. Not really valid when we are discussing Apple Widgets and Homekit.
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… and as for the Matter mess with Hue and Apple HomeKit. I’m not sure my setup is back to normal yet.
I used to until it stopped seeing the Hue bridge. Nothing I seem to do can find it again. Any advice?
Ever since Matter, every 6 to 8 weeks tops, all my lights simply disappear from Homekit and I have to re-add the Hue Bridge, and all my lights, plugs, switches, and motion sensors, and have to set-up my automations all over again.
So yeah, this is a much needed update so I can just start using Hue‘s own app instead of going through Apple.
So yeah, this is a much needed update so I can just start using Hue‘s own app instead of going through Apple.
I was never able to get the Home app to work properly with my lights, every now and then they would show as unreachable, I guess because I have regular switches installed in the house (non-smart) and the lights would occasionally be offline, but there was no way to "refresh" their status - also had lots of issues with colored lights, there was no way to easily pick the colors or the scenes etc. I felt more comfortable with the Hue app, despite its flaws... i would still love to switch to the Home app and its widgets as they're supposed to be better integrated in the system, but I have never been able to make it work for me.
It might have something to do with me not having an official Appple enabled Hub in the house? I only have the Philips hue hub which doesn't seem to be supported officially by HomeKit as a hub.
I have always used openHAB with the Hue addon und very seldom the Hue app itself. Some time ago, they announced that you need an Hue account to still use the Hue app. As I bought Hue in the first place because it could be used without an internet account I will not buy any new devices and look for alternatives. Until than, openHAB and some third party Hue app ( I have forgotten the name) are good enough.
I tried Homekit (also with an openHAB addon) und use it sometimes, when I am awy from home, as it is convenient not to have to start a VPN. But I do not like the layout of the Homekit app, for me it lacks a lot of flexibility. Maybe because I have way more than a 100 devices in Homekit.
This widget makes no sense. Its a large button to turn something on and a large button to turn it off. For an extra button press ie open the app, i can have a lot more choice of actions. Why cant a widget button toggle on and off?
There's only one excellent Hue feature, dimming is the best you can get.
Otherwise the Hue system is meh, example:
When someone switches off the wall switch (EU standard switches) connected to the bulb the light won't work, that's a huge issue and to me the biggest nono for home automation.
Also, way overpriced.
I use shelly's with custom homekit firmware, the (Shelly) dimmers suck though.
I wish, someday, Apples homekit will be able to control a lot more and includes all kind of sensors, that'll be great.
Otherwise the Hue system is meh, example:
When someone switches off the wall switch (EU standard switches) connected to the bulb the light won't work, that's a huge issue and to me the biggest nono for home automation.
Also, way overpriced.
I use shelly's with custom homekit firmware, the (Shelly) dimmers suck though.
I wish, someday, Apples homekit will be able to control a lot more and includes all kind of sensors, that'll be great.
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Agreed. But the home app can be buggy at times and when my internet goes out I end up having to use the hue app
This is the issue with ANY smart light if the switches arent wired to be connected to wireless or are self powered.
Hue / homekit sync used to be great... then matter update came along. I have 40-50 hue lights and they stopped working with the home app. I called hue... did all the troubleshooting... delete home, add to home, sync with HomeKit, etc. Multiple hue support reps said, "sorry, we can't fix the hue / HomeKit syncing issue."
My system worked with the home app for years before the matter update with no issues. Now that matter came out, the only way I can control my hue lights is with the hue app.
My system worked with the home app for years before the matter update with no issues. Now that matter came out, the only way I can control my hue lights is with the hue app.