I love the idea of a fully automated smart home setup where my lights turn on exactly when I need them, and the thermostat adjusts itself without me even thinking about it. In practice, however, there are times when you simply want to push a button for things to happen. For guests, babysitters, or when I don’t want to use my iPhone, physical controls remain the gold standard for interaction.
This week, let’s take a look at the Flic Hub LR and the new Flic Duo as a nice way to control your Apple Home scenes and devices.
Some of my favorite gear Aqara Smart Lock U50 Upgrade your doors with Apple Home Key and the Aqara U50.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
Why physical buttons still matter
Voice control has its place, but it is not a solution for every problem. If I am walking out the door, I do not want to stop and have a conversation with Siri through a HomePod mini. I want to hit a button and know that my “Goodbye” scene has triggered, the door is locked, and the lights are off. It’s similar to how I always use the keypad on my abobe alarm system when I am leaving, rather than using the keypad.
Guests are another major factor to consider when it comes to your smart home. I really don’t want to explain to a babysitter or family member from out of town how to deal with joining our home temporarily, etc. A button is a universal language here. Instead of “download this app”, I want to say: here use this button to turn the lights off and on.
Finally, it comes down to speed and convenience for me. Pulling out your iPhone, navigating to Control Center, and locating the correct tile requires time and attention that is nice sometimes, but other times, I want a button. A button sitting on your coffee table or beside your bed is always there, ready to turn off your lights when you’re ready for bed or to start your morning routine instantly. It removes the annoyance from the smart home experience.
Some of my favorite gear eufyCam 2C Upgrade your home security with wireless cameras that includes HomeKit compatibility.
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