Your iPad Will Stop Functioning As A Smart Home Hub In iOS 16
Apple is removing home hub support from the iPad in iPadOS 16 in an effort to introduce Matter support later this year, forcing users to switch to a HomePod or an Apple TV to keep their HomeKit devices up and running. The ability to set up an iPad as a home hub was a valuable feature, since Apple doesn't currently sell a smart home speaker or voice assistant with a screen. Instead, users had the option of setting up an iPad as a home hub, and some people thought of creative ways to incorporate their iPad into their home — like wall mounts and 3D-printed stands. By keeping an iPad as a home hub, users could remotely control HomeKit devices through the tablet's Wi-Fi connections.
The move appears to be tied to Apple's support of Matter, a universal smart home connectivity standard, that is set to debut later this year. After a series of delays, the company confirmed at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference that Matter would be coming to HomeKit, allowing expansive support for third-party smart home accessories. Apple is joining other tech giants — like Google, Amazon, and Samsung — in embracing an open future for the ever-evolving internet-of-things (IoT). However, as the company's smart home gains features, it seems that other devices in Apple's lineup might lose them in the fall.
Related: Why Apple Needs A Smart Home Device With A Screen
Apple's preview of iOS and iPadOS 16 hinted at the possibility that the iPad might not work as a home hub after the update. Though the company touted a redesigned Home app and Matter support to come in the fall, the fine print on its website left the iPad excluded as a home hub. "Only Apple TV and HomePod are supported as home hubs," Apple's website reads. This marked a change from
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