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Home Widget, a third-party iOS app for building custom HomeKit control panels, released version 1.10 with a new camera mosaic feature that shows every HomeKit camera in one scrollable view from a single widget tap. The update also adds direct thermostat control and whole-room lighting adjustments from widget tiles, plus a Control Center option to jump straight to the camera mosaic or a specific camera.
Apple expanded its third-party accessories lineup this week with eight new products, led by the Aqara Thermostat Hub W200, which first launched in April after debuting at CES 2026. The device sells for $169.95 through Apple, about $10 more than on Amazon, and supports Apple Home features including Adaptive Temperature and Clean Energy Guidance. Apple also began selling the Aqara Climate Sensor W100 alongside six other new accessories.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on his new podcast that Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro, featuring a touchscreen and OLED display, is likely to launch as early as October, possibly slipping to November. He noted Apple is already testing the device internally using a macOS 27.2 beta already distributed to developers.
Leaker pdfu, who previously uncovered iPhone Duo StandBy mode screens in Apple's Xcode simulator, has now found evidence that Apple's upcoming HomePad will include a similar 'Photo Face' setup step. According to the leaker, the HomePad setup process runs through the Home app and prompts users to create a Photo Face using iCloud Photos, pulling in a few high-resolution images immediately while the full library downloads.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will release its rumored Home Hub on October 13th, a 6-inch square display device available in countertop and wall-mounted versions. The device uses face and voice recognition to personalize its interface for different household members and will control smart home devices like thermostats and door locks while showcasing Apple's new Siri assistant.
ULTRALOQ has released the Bolt Mission, a smart lock that uses ultra-wideband combined with Bluetooth Low Energy and radar-based presence sensing to detect a user's precise approach to a door, rather than relying on GPS or simple Bluetooth proximity. The company simultaneously introduced the Bolt Pro and Latch 5 Pro, both certified under the Aliro standard for tap-to-unlock via Apple Wallet or Samsung Wallet.
A veteran smart-home reviewer tested AI-generated text notifications from Apple Home, Amazon (Ring), and Google (Nest) security camera systems, comparing how fast each sent alerts and how accurate and useful the descriptions were. The review notes Apple charges up to three times more than its competitors for this AI notification feature.
Apple's Home app now offers AI-generated descriptive summaries and natural language search for security camera footage. These features require a paid HomeKit Secure Video subscription, with top-tier plans reaching up to $60 per month.
With iOS 27 and tvOS 27, Apple has added Apple Intelligence features to HomeKit Secure Video, including AI-generated text summaries of camera footage, video search, and the ability to merge clips from multiple cameras. These features require pricier iCloud Plus plans, starting at $9.99 a month for one camera and rising to $59.99 a month for coverage of up to five cameras.
Shelly has released the Flood S Gen4, a Matter-certified water leak sensor priced under $30 that works natively with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, and Home Assistant. The device uses three large stainless steel contact pads instead of small metal pins, allowing it to detect water faster and even sense low-conductivity liquids like AC condensate.
A veteran smart-home reviewer argues that Apple's next major hardware push should be a dedicated home computer that processes data locally rather than another cloud-connected screen. She notes that new CEO John Ternus described the iPhone using language—an 'intelligent personal hub' focused on local processing and privacy—that better fits a smart home hub than a phone. The piece also points to Anker's Eufy MindBase, shown at IFA Berlin, as an early example of this 'super hub' category supporting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee and Matter.
Apple's fall event centered on the new foldable iPhone Duo and expanded Siri AI features but included no mention of a long-rumored standalone smart home display. Insiders had suggested Apple would finally launch an Echo Show-style device with facial recognition and flexible mounting options, but the Apple Home app received no stage time at all. Instead, the $1,999 iPhone Duo can be propped up to mimic some display functions, though it lacks the size, speakers, and dedicated purpose of true smart displays.