In this post, we will explore the accessories that are compatible with HomePod for those who want to use it as a smart home controller or are planning to purchase one for this purpose. Rather than discussing communication standards, protocols, and applications, we will focus on the physical devices that can be controlled using Apple‘s smart speaker.
What each accessory does
The accessories that are compatible with HomePod need to support both the HomeKit and Matter communication protocols. HomeKit has been Apple’s proprietary communication protocol between accessories and operating systems, while Matter is a connection standard that enables compatibility with various AI assistants such as Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri.
Nevertheless, it is worth noting that certain accessories and manufacturers allow interaction with the accessories through an application without invoking Siri. Since HomePod lacks a screen to display applications and manage graphical environments, it is crucial that the accessories we connect are compatible with voice commands, not just with the application.
While some manufacturers will update their accessories to be compatible with the Matter standard, the HomePod and HomePod mini already support it. Keeping this in mind, we can now look at the smart home accessories that are currently compatible with HomePod or HomeKit, and in the near future with Matter:
- Lightning:
- LED strips
- Light bulbs
- light panels
- Energy and home:
- smart plugs
- smart power strips
- thermostats
- Thermometers
- Air quality sensors
- weather stations
- Valves for radiators and boilers
- Stop valves for water
- Security:
- Security cameras
- smart locks
- smart doorbells
- Motion sensors
These types of accessories can be found in a dedicated section of the official Apple website, which partially includes accessories compatible with the HomeKit home automation ecosystem. However, it is important to consider the current market for home automation accessories. Currently, the majority of peripherals that can be controlled by voice assistants fall into this category.
It’s worth noting that the Matter standardized communication protocol was only introduced in December 2022, so it’s still relatively new. There is still a long way to go before new accessories produced are compatible with this type of communication. Furthermore, new connected accessories are constantly being released, which means that the list of compatible accessories will continue to expand as time goes on.
