TOP 7 Homekit Products to Add & some to Avoid in your Smart Home

This video needs an update.

Man not trying to be rude but the grey in your facial hair kinda feel’s distracting.

Trying to wrap my head around the absurdity of using a smartphone to turn on the sprinkler!

My Hunter Ceiling Fan stopped working under HomeKit and their own Hunter App. Not sure if it has to do with the software update from Apple. What do you recommend for smart Homekit Ceiling Light/Fan? It here is any Smart Switch for Fan/Light combo?

Sorry but Nanoleaf Essential bulbs are total crap. I have used three A19 Bulbs; they drop connection after sometime. You have to reset the Nanoleaf bulbs and add them to HomeKit all over again. After sometime it becomes frustrating. By the way, i have a HomePod Mini and Apple TV on Thread nearby. Long story short, I have ditched Nanoleaf products and moved over to Philips Hue with hub. Abit pricey but they work beautifully. Over the last 6 months, I have zero connection issues with Philips Hue bulbs.

I have several two switch light switch panels that incorporate traditional toggle light switches and traditional rotary dimmers. I want to control the traditional toggle light switch ( exterior lights) , and I do not want to replace the functioning dimmers. Any idea where I can find a HomeKit toggle switch similar to the ones available for Google and Alexis home automation?

Logitech Circle video doorbell not recommended in cities with constant high temps over 98 degrees
Living in Las Vegas the camera shuts down , showing it needs to cool down, happens all the time.
Our temp were nearing 100 & will reach 115 degrees in the shade, night temp will stay above 98 degrees making the camera use less.
Logitech has agreed and is refunding the cost, as I got the camera in December and worked fine till it became hot.
It took lots of strong arming them until they cried uncle
Please note it does not work in the heat, other times it’s great.
Just got the ARLO video doorbell works fine ,so do my Eufy cameras in direct Sun exposure
But ARLO doorbell does not support HomeKit unless you buy the ARLO hub $100 plus add cost, but still will not record and save to apple.
Good marketing as all of this is not mentioned in their site.
So not truly HomeKit compatible
Buyers beware

Hi Brad - I was wondering if you have heard of the Brilliant Smart Home Control Panel? Supposedly it’s compatible with HomeKit. Would love to see a video review if you get the chance.

I just discovered your channel. It's very informative. May I humbly suggest you do something else with your hands while you're on screen? The random appearance and disappearance of your hands is distracting.

Gotta disagree with the opinion on Wemo. I feel they're actually better than Meros. Their 3 way light switch is fantastic and I used their single light switches in our bedroom and they're fantastic. There is an occasional hick up but it's easily fixable with a simple resetting of the wifi. I'm curious if your wifi signal just isn't the best and is causing your issues? Used to have some issues with Netgear as our router and switch to a much better TP Link router to improve overall signal for our home. Suggesting a switch that costs double the wemo just because it's 2% more reliable seems pretty ridiculous. Typically you'd only want a smart switch in a few locations at most: main living space, Kitchen, and master bedroom. All other areas could be easily addressed by using another product you mentioned: The Nanoleaf essentials lightbulb. I use these for our outdoor lighting (Garage, entrance, and back porch) and they can be easily paired in homekit to function based off of a homekit enables security device (like eufy security cameras).

Strongly recommend people give the Amazon starter kit from Wemo a chance. You get a lightswitch and a smart plug for just $40. If you go with Casada switches you're gonna end up spending $60 on the switch alone. If you have prime, give Wemo a shot....this is bad press IMO and I'd hate for people to waste money.

LIFX is awesome for HomeKit.

Regarding the VOCOlinc light strip, I have one in my living room behind the tv and it has worked for me pretty well I don’t have any complains.

My whole house is HomeKit and the Wemo switches that I had I completely replaced them because they were really bad.

Can you connect Eve weather with ecobee.

This is such a great help.

The only Eve product I wouldn’t recommend is their proximity sensor. It’s big and ugly and very expensive.

I LOVE this list! Big thanks to The Brad Lloyd!! 🎉

Lutron only works on 110v. Does not work at 220v wired homes.

Lutron Caseta is a bad recommendation for switches because they are outrageously expensive. I think they even require hubs. I’ll take your word for it on reliability, having not owned them. I’ve been adding Meross switches throughout my house. They work every single time, fast, and roughly $20/each. A basic Lutron switch is $60. Why pay that? I get it if you had a good experience with them but man that’s a rough recommendation. Chuh-Ching!

You should add the overpriced and slow Phillips Hue to the list of products to avoid!

Ok but the Wemo smart plugs are actually the worst

I have a ? I would like to install a light dimmer control in an RV it has 120volt AC .But the light control works on DC 12v? What do you think

Another impeccable video & I like your honest advice on the many HomeKit accessories 🙏😊

Sad to say I bught all Wemo light and plugs in each room my house and a good portion do not work at time and require firmware updates. And do not work with HomeKit.

This was a great video and also cool because it has Canadian prices! Any recommendations on strip lights??

ok

Gotta disagree with your suggestion to buy meross smart plugs. They constantly crash and I have a couple that completely died after a firmware update. Never buying anything they make again. Eve energy is the only way to go right now.

On the Weiser lock, I would say that mine (I also have 2) have been pretty solid, more so now that I put a HomePod Mini in the garage by the one that was being a little in-responsive. The keypad always works so even without connectivity I know I am getting in. My biggest issue is with the door jam and the movement that happens with cold weather that causes more resistance on the edge of the deadbolt (reports a jab, even when it actually does close). A big per peeve of mine though is the screw on the bottom of the unit that needs to be taken out to change the batteries (try accessing it with a door knob below the deadbolt).

So you got 7 of the 10 Homekit accessories made?

I want to put a lot of emphasis on WiFi. I lived in an older house for many years with Hue and all Wifi switches working 98% of the time. Moved to a new neighborhood with over 48 neighboring signals and 97% used 2.4Ghz band! Nothing worked or responded half the time. I removed over 24 Wifi devices to Lutron or other based hubs like Aqara, now I am 100% working 100% of the time. I run every end device now like laptops, gaming consoles, TV, etc. that I can on 5Ghz wifi 4-6. Only have 3 2.4Ghz Wifi homekit devices.

Really disappointed in my Nanoleaf. They are just too much trouble. It’s in a place I can’t reach easily. Bad call

Completely agree with the Lutron switches! One of the HomeKit accessories that I’ve have ZERO issues with

Good video, I love TP-Link Kasa with Homebridge. Low cost and very good. Inside plugg and Outdoor

Yeah don’t water your lawn. It’s a complete waste of resources

Brad. Any suggestions for outdoor porch, outdoor garage and outdoor light post smart color bulbs? I am in Rochester, NY so like you I need to consider the cold winter months and if the bulbs will be able to take the freezing temps.

Fuck grass. Let it die. If I could pave my whole yard then I would

What lights do you use for your TV?

The Eve Weather device has an operating range that goes down to only -18C (0 Fahrenheit), which means it's not viable for most places in Canada. It might even get permanently damaged below -18C. The same thing is probably true for most smart doorbells.

Really like the videos. Could you maybe do a video on dos and don’ts with smart lighting and smart switches. I’m new to all this and am going to start making my house smart. Thanks!

Totally agree about belkin wemo products. I use wemo light switches and they just disappear when they want and are a BIG pain to reinstall!!!

COME ON BELKIN WEMO!!!

I have 10 of the Wemo light switches. No issues with them at all. None are in bedrooms due to the light on the switch. They work with my scenes without any problems as well. I did have problems with plug. I have the August Smart lock and love it. Simple to use and the install was easy. For my doorbell I have Eufy. But it doesn’t work with HomeKit so will definitely check out the Logitech.

Cannot agree with everything. I do own several VOCOlinc Smart WLAN LED Light Strips - these work perfectly with Homekit from adoption to function. Quick and relyable responses from all of them.

Great Video!
I can vouch for the Level Lock. I had the 1st gen August but it kept losing connection in Homekit and eventually just crapped out. The newer versions may be better but I decided to make the switch to Level and haven't had an issue yet.

Wait what? Nanoleaf essentials being Calle bright with vibrant colors? I love their panels but their bulbs are one of the worst if not the worst out there for brightness and color saturation

I did not expect this man to talk like this I’m weak af 😂😂😂😂😂😂

You missed Philips Hue….I hate them! No response randomly, slow to respond and way overpriced! I’ve switched to the Nanoleaf brand. No bridge and zero issues plus they load quickly and use thread.

I can’t get the august Wi-Fi lock to work with home kit. It works perfectly in the august app but if I can’t tell Siri to unlock my door who cares.

Wemo switches are awesome. Must be your WiFi

I am disappointed at the number of devices that don’t have Thread! There should be a warning label on any device that claims to be HomeKit compatible but didn’t bother to include Thread.