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The Sensibo Air smart air conditioning controller was recently updated with HomeKit support, allowing Sensibo Air owners to access air conditioning controls through the Home app in addition to using Siri commands.

sensibo-air-homekit.jpg

Priced at $139, the Sensibo Air is compatible with standalone air conditioning units rather than central air conditioning options. It works with in-window units, introducing smart controls that can be accessed through a HomeKit-enabled device.

The Sensibo Air uses sensors paired with artificial intelligence to optimize the indoor climate and reduce indoor energy consumption by activating the AC when it's needed based on ambient temperature, humidity, and motion. It provides usage tips based on outdoor climate and air quality data.

HomeKit compatibility has been in the works for some time now, with the feature rolling out to users starting last week. The product was previously compatible with Alexa, and will now also feature deeper integration and functionality with Apple devices.

Article Link: Sensibo Air Gains HomeKit Compatibility
 
I have the prior version, which I use with my split unit. It works great, and they have done a nice job iterating the app over the years. I have put away the physical remote control, since it is so much inferior to the app interface.

I have used HomeBridge to interact with the Sensibo, but it's never been that seamless. So this may trigger a purchase...
 
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I was very disappointed with Sensibo when I bought two. Aesthetics are ruined by actually needing to be plugged in (not the cable free photos as shown in all the website brochureware) and then constant tweaking and resetting, all underpinned by some high school level UI and naming. Do your resesarch before buying. Luckily I got a refund.
 
I was very disappointed with Sensibo when I bought two. Aesthetics are ruined by actually needing to be plugged in (not the cable free photos as shown in all the website brochureware) and then constant tweaking and resetting, all underpinned by some high school level UI and naming. Do your resesarch before buying. Luckily I got a refund.

they can be hardwired into certain mini-split units.
 
I wonder if the older non-Air units will be made Homekit-compatible.

As for the esthetic part: I have four of them (4 unit split system) and they're all very discreetly placed. Wish I could plug/wire them into the indoor units though.
 
I was very disappointed with Sensibo when I bought two. Aesthetics are ruined by actually needing to be plugged in (not the cable free photos as shown in all the website brochureware) and then constant tweaking and resetting, all underpinned by some high school level UI and naming. Do your resesarch before buying. Luckily I got a refund.

My four units work perfectly for the past year and a half. I control them either with Sensibo app or more often using Google Assistant. You might have had to adjust the position of your units.

I do feel the units could be cheaper. Spending 400-500 $ for all four of them is a lot of money when though I spread it over a long amount of time.
 
I wonder if the older non-Air units will be made Homekit-compatible.

As for the esthetic part: I have four of them (4 unit split system) and they're all very discreetly placed. Wish I could plug/wire them into the indoor units though.
I hope so. I just got a sky last week. I have set it up with homebridge. But native support I’m all for
 
I’ll have to look into this. The reliability of my Tado units (same type of product) is... maybe 80-90%?
 
I have Tado as well. I think its quite reliable but i have only 1 gripe. They are all USB powered and need a constant connection whet limits the positioning significantly. I looked overvall available AC smart controlers and have not found anything battery powered. I have no idea wh……
 
Is this any different than having a smart plug to turn the AC on? I currently have a $20 smart plug and a Hue motion sensor that monitors temperature as well. An automation is set to turn the ac on when the room reaches a certain temperature and I also have full control with HomeKit and geofencing if needed.

Just want to know if this offers anything over my current set up that would entice me to purchase and add to my smart home?
 
Is this any different than having a smart plug to turn the AC on? I currently have a $20 smart plug and a Hue motion sensor that monitors temperature as well. An automation is set to turn the ac on when the room reaches a certain temperature and I also have full control with HomeKit and geofencing if needed.

Just want to know if this offers anything over my current set up that would entice me to purchase and add to my smart home?
I'd say stick with your solution if it works.
One problem people have is that some devices try to be smart and won't "really" power on when you toggle the AC power. For example most humidifiers are now like that -- they have their own power button, and when poer cycles, they default to being off when power is restored.
Point is, if someone's AC is like that, then they can't just use a smart plug :-(
 
Is this any different than having a smart plug to turn the AC on? I currently have a $20 smart plug and a Hue motion sensor that monitors temperature as well. An automation is set to turn the ac on when the room reaches a certain temperature and I also have full control with HomeKit and geofencing if needed.

Just want to know if this offers anything over my current set up that would entice me to purchase and add to my smart home?
Not even remotely similar. If what you’re doing works for you, then great, but it sounds like an over complicated relay reliant on being able to be inserted between the unit and a power socket, where as a Sensibo lets you configure the air condition settings, changing modes/fan speeds/desired temps without looking for the remote
 
I have used HomeBridge to interact with the Sensibo, but it's never been that seamless. So this may trigger a purchase...
I’ve got my units running via home bridge too, but I find myself using the app because the home bridge plugin doesn’t know about “dry” mode.

I’d be quite interested to know if that’s a HomeKit limitation or if the new ones with official support make HomeKit show dry mode. It probably wouldn’t push me to replace them, but knowing it’s possible might motivate me into hacking on that plug-in to work out why it’s not already exposing that mode
 
I’m installing a Mitsubishi mini split system with 3 indoor heads. Wondering if anyone ever got this Air unit to work well with HomeKit? Looks like not currently available on Amazon?!
 
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I’m installing a Mitsubishi mini split system with 3 indoor heads. Wondering if anyone ever got this Air unit to work well with HomeKit? Looks like not currently available on Amazon?!
If you are willing to install Homebridge, the answer appears to be yes:

I run Homebridge on a mac mini and have had few problems with it.
If you don't have a similar always-on mac, you can buy a raspberry pi appliance that runs it for a few tens of dollars, but I have no experience with the RPi version.
 
If you are willing to install Homebridge, the answer appears to be yes:

I run Homebridge on a mac mini and have had few problems with it.
If you don't have a similar always-on mac, you can buy a raspberry pi appliance that runs it for a few tens of dollars, but I have no experience with the RPi version.
So are you using the sensibo air or a model before that? Yes I have home bridge running on a raspberry pie and already use it for some lights so this should be easy, but I did read some people said you don’t get all the features that you would from a native homekit device

the Mitsubishi kumo cloud sounds like overpriced junk right?
 
So are you using the sensibo air or a model before that? Yes I have home bridge running on a raspberry pie and already use it for some lights so this should be easy, but I did read some people said you don’t get all the features that you would from a native homekit device

the Mitsubishi kumo cloud sounds like overpriced junk right?
I have no idea about the mitsubishi aircon units or how well their Homebridge functionality works; I simply did a quick search of the Homebridge plugins.
But since you are already committed to the mitsubishi installation, it can't hurt to try the homebridge plugin.

Personally I'm in CA so have a whole house unit with ecobee. Ecobee works nicely as a baseline thermostat, especially the per-room occupancy+presence sensors. It's far from perfect, but nothing that's actually better seems available.
The way it frequently (one a week, for a day or so) loses its HomeKit connection is irritating; but it's programmable "enough" within the basic ecobee framework that I can live with it. The main thing you lose when the HomeKit connection goes is it doesn't immediately switch to "away mode", it takes 2hrs or so to realize the house is now uninhabited.
 
I have no idea about the mitsubishi aircon units or how well their Homebridge functionality works; I simply did a quick search of the Homebridge plugins.
But since you are already committed to the mitsubishi installation, it can't hurt to try the homebridge plugin.

Personally I'm in CA so have a whole house unit with ecobee. Ecobee works nicely as a baseline thermostat, especially the per-room occupancy+presence sensors. It's far from perfect, but nothing that's actually better seems available.
The way it frequently (one a week, for a day or so) loses its HomeKit connection is irritating; but it's programmable "enough" within the basic ecobee framework that I can live with it. The main thing you lose when the HomeKit connection goes is it doesn't immediately switch to "away mode", it takes 2hrs or so to realize the house is now uninhabited.
Oh ok. Got it. Ya I have an ecobee system as well for gas furnace heating. Not sure I can incorporate this Mitsubishi into that very easily. Maybe I’m wrong
 
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