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, s 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, s could remotely control HomeKit devices through the tablet's Wi-Fi connections.
The move appears to be tied to Apple's 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 for third-party smart home accessories. Apple is ing other tech giants — the company's smart home gains features, it seems that other devices in Apple's lineup might lose them in the fall.
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 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 ed as home hubs," Apple's when the first iOS and iPadOS 16 developer beta was released, it was still possible to setup an iPad as a home hub. The second developer beta was released without for the iPad as a home hub, and with a message warning iPad s that their smart home would lose functionality.
iPad Home Hubs Are Not Compatible With Matter
Opening the Home app in the latest developer beta of iOS and iPadOS 16 prompts a message warning s that iPads will no longer be ed as home hubs, as was first pointed out by set up an Apple TV, HomePod, or HomePod mini as a home hub.
The loss of is likely tied to the Matter set to be added to HomeKit later this year. "Matter accessories require an Apple TV or HomePod running as a home hub," Apple says in the notes at the bottom of its iOS 16 preview. It isn't immediately clear why the iPad is not compatible with Matter accessories, but it looks like Apple has made the choice to remove home hub entirely due to the lack of . The removal suggests that the company is all-in on Matter , which is said to bring an open standard to the smart home and a new era of inter-compatibility. The changes to HomeKit and the addition of Matter will be released later this year as part of iOS and iPadOS 16.