HomeKit Weekly: Must-have HomeKit gifts for the 2024 holiday season

5 days ago 2

With Christmas shopping hitting its peak, time’s running out to get those online orders in before the rush pushes you into the last-minute store scramble. HomeKit accessories make great gifts for any Apple fans—they’re always in demand and add value to any smart home setup. For this week’s HomeKit Weekly, I’ve compiled a 2024 HomeKit gift guide to help you find the perfect addition for your favorite Apple fan.

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.

Top HomeKit Door Locks

It’s hard to overstate how effective and useful a HomeKit door lock is. From being able to unlock and lock remotely to automatically unlocking as you walk up, it’s a great gift idea for anyone looking to upgrade their smart home. My top door lock at the moment of the Level Lock+. With Home Key support, an appearance that blends in with any decor, and the option to continue using a traditional key, it’s hard to beat. I also love the NFC keys as well. They’re perfect to give to family members who are less technical.

If you want something with a PIN code for entry, check out the Aqara U100. It also includes a fingerprint option as well. Both are fantastic options. I also love the 4th generation August Smart Lock. Although it lacks Home Key support, it does allow you to keep the outside part of your door lock the same as you have now and simply replace the inside. For many people, replacing the outside part of the lock is a non-starter, so it lets you add HomeKit support to your existing one by just replacing the inside part.

Home Key is a pretty important feature for me, and here’s a current listen of the best Home Key door locks:

Level Lock+
Aqara U50
Aqara U100
Aqara U200
Schlage Encode Plus
Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus

Top HomeKit cameras

HomeKit-compatible cameras make excellent gifts, and there is always a reason to add just one more. It’s important to note that while many cameras support HomeKit, not all are compatible with HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV). HKSV enables secure recording and storage of footage in iCloud, providing enhanced privacy and integration with Apple’s ecosystem.

For outdoor HomeKit cameras, there are some great options as well. For a flood light replacement, check out Eve’s Outdoor Camera. Because it replaces a floodlight, it will have permanent power while using Wi-Fi for the transmission. Similar to the indoor camera, it works great with HomeKit Secure Video. For a wired outdoor HomeKit camera, check out Logitech Circle View. If you’re looking for a battery-powered outdoor option with local recording, check out the Eufy 2C cameras. The battery life is great (180 days), all the recording goes to an SD record at the base station, and you can add it to HomeKit for automation access as well as viewing on Apple TV, etc.

One of the things I failed to mention is the benefits of HomeKit cameras in your automation. Because the cameras act as motion sensors, they can be used within your automations to turn on other accessories (lights, etc) when they detect motion.

HomeKit gift guide: Top HomeKit light bulbs

HomeKit Adaptive Lighting for Philips Hue bulbs

Enhancing your home with HomeKit-compatible lighting is a fantastic way to introduce smart technology, offering features like dimming and a spectrum of color options. Here are some top picks to consider:

VOCOlinc Smart Light Bulb
meross Smart Light Bulb
OREiN Matter Smart Light
YEELIGHT Smart WiFi Light Bulb

There are a wide range of options to pick from here. Having all of your lighting on HomeKit is a major upgrade for any smart home.

Best HomeKit smart plugs

HomeKit outlet adapters are an excellent way to automate traditional appliances like lamps, coffee makers, and air filters, making them a perfect addition to any smart home setup. By plugging these adapters into your wall outlet and then connecting your device, you can control them via your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Siri, and even set schedules. This is particularly useful when traveling, as you can simulate occupancy by scheduling lamps to turn on and off. Here are some top HomeKit-compatible outlet adapters to consider:

Meross Matter smart plug
VOCOlinc Homekit Smart Plug
Outdoor Smart Plug
Kasa Smart Plug Mini
Wemo Smart Plug with Thread
Eve Energy

Wrap up – other misc items

If nothing on my HomeKit gift guide is hitting the spot, here are a few other items I recommend as top HomeKit accessories that didn’t fit in another category.