We recommend the Apple TV over the other options because it does double duty as a great media streamer in addition to providing solid communication with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth smart devices we added a second unit to reach distant Bluetooth devices on another floor (in our testing we found that the HomePod Mini, though cheaper and also useful, currently suffers from issues communicating with Bluetooth HomeKit devices). If you want to stay in touch with your smart devices when you leave home, you need to add a HomeKit hub-either an Apple TV, an iPad, or a HomePod Mini (the original HomePod, which is discontinued, can work as well). Although it’s certainly possible to have a home with multiple smart-home platforms, with each running different sets of devices, it adds a layer of complexity that may not appeal to everyone. This point is especially important if you already own smart devices and hope to have them all work together (devices that rely on wireless Zigbee and Z-Wave, for instance, may not be compatible). And there remain a few categories of devices for which no great HomeKit option exists, most notably smart smoke alarms. (By comparison, far more devices are compatible with Amazon Alexa, and many also work with Google Assistant/Google Home). Similar to the way computers can support only compatible versions of software, any smart device you hope to use has to be “HomeKit-enabled.” (That all smart devices aren’t mutually compatible remains one of the longstanding shortcomings of the smart home in general.) Although many popular models of smart-home devices (thermostats, locks, plugs, bulbs, switches, and so on) are HomeKit-compatible, there are plenty that aren’t, including many of our top picks. You’ll also need to pay attention when you’re picking smart devices.

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