Apple HomeKit seen 'gaining traction' in smarthome accessories towards 2023
As the number of smarthome devices approaches a forecast 1.56 billion in 2023, ones compatible with Apple's HomeKit should finally gain more "traction," according to research firm IDC.

An early version of Nanoleaf's HomeKit-compatible Canvas light panels.
"Though the [2019] smart home market will essentially be dominated by two companies, Amazon and Google, Apple is also expected to gain traction in the coming years," it said in a report. Amazon Alexa and Google Home are so far the most dominant consumer smarthome platforms in terms of compatibility, aided by matching low-cost smartspeakers.
"The existing popularity of iOS and macOS devices combined with the availability of Apple apps/services on non-Apple products will help the company slowly entice more consumers into their ecosystem," IDC suggested, "while also attracting third parties to build compatible devices."
Last week Apple introduced several new services: Apple News+, Apple Arcade, Apple Card, Apple TV Channels, and finally Apple TV+, its original video platform. Alongside that it revealed that its redesigned TV app would come to third-party smart TVs and streamers, joining AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.
HomeKit has enjoyed reasonably healthy support by accessory makers like Hunter, ecobee, Philips, and Honeywell, but Apple's one smartspeaker -- the HomePod -- is normally $349. People who just want voice control and/or already have high-quality speakers can get an Amazon Echo Dot for $39.99, or a Google Home Mini for $49. A rumored "cheap" HomePod has yet to manifest.
Apple's December-quarter share of the global smartspeaker market was recently estimated at 1.6 percent. That's a far cry from Amazon's 13.7, and Google's 11.5.
Perhaps more importantly, Amazon and Google's smarthome platforms are typically considered easier to develop for. For years Apple required that HomeKit accessories have a dedicated chip for handling its tough encryption, and while decryption can now be done in software, developers like August have complained that HomeKit still requires extra effort.
In fact only recently have brands like Netatmo and Robin begun launching HomeKit-compatible doorbells, despite that technology being a marketing centerpiece for the iOS Home app in 2016. Two of the most popular doorbell brands -- August and Ring -- once promised HomeKit compatibility but appear to have backtracked.

An early version of Nanoleaf's HomeKit-compatible Canvas light panels.
"Though the [2019] smart home market will essentially be dominated by two companies, Amazon and Google, Apple is also expected to gain traction in the coming years," it said in a report. Amazon Alexa and Google Home are so far the most dominant consumer smarthome platforms in terms of compatibility, aided by matching low-cost smartspeakers.
"The existing popularity of iOS and macOS devices combined with the availability of Apple apps/services on non-Apple products will help the company slowly entice more consumers into their ecosystem," IDC suggested, "while also attracting third parties to build compatible devices."
Last week Apple introduced several new services: Apple News+, Apple Arcade, Apple Card, Apple TV Channels, and finally Apple TV+, its original video platform. Alongside that it revealed that its redesigned TV app would come to third-party smart TVs and streamers, joining AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.
HomeKit has enjoyed reasonably healthy support by accessory makers like Hunter, ecobee, Philips, and Honeywell, but Apple's one smartspeaker -- the HomePod -- is normally $349. People who just want voice control and/or already have high-quality speakers can get an Amazon Echo Dot for $39.99, or a Google Home Mini for $49. A rumored "cheap" HomePod has yet to manifest.
Apple's December-quarter share of the global smartspeaker market was recently estimated at 1.6 percent. That's a far cry from Amazon's 13.7, and Google's 11.5.
Perhaps more importantly, Amazon and Google's smarthome platforms are typically considered easier to develop for. For years Apple required that HomeKit accessories have a dedicated chip for handling its tough encryption, and while decryption can now be done in software, developers like August have complained that HomeKit still requires extra effort.
In fact only recently have brands like Netatmo and Robin begun launching HomeKit-compatible doorbells, despite that technology being a marketing centerpiece for the iOS Home app in 2016. Two of the most popular doorbell brands -- August and Ring -- once promised HomeKit compatibility but appear to have backtracked.
Comments
So far that has been working out. I'm quite happy with my LiftMaster garage door openers, Ecobee3, August smart lock and hue lighting. Everything seems to work well, and can control it all from my watch or phone. It will be interesting to see how much more automated homes can become (predicting renewable energy compatible devices with energy use and gain anticipation algorithms). I am waiting for a good blinds set up, so far I have found them all to be ugly, but other than that I'm not sure what else I would want.
** One point that was not mentioned in the article was that the AppleTV can be a hub too. I'm not sure why there is a focus on the HomePod. I do not own a HomePod, not sure I will.
*** Another point missed: Siri needs some serious refactoring to be a true competitor in this market.
Amazon and Google -- as well as others -- have one main goal: To Spy On You!
... And, with smart devices in your home they know your every move.
Only Apple with its security and integration abilities can develop and maintain smart devices that work well together and maintain security.
I am certainly not going to put "a hub" from some no name company in my home anymore than I want Amazon or Google listening to everything I do or say.
In smart home quality and robustness matter more than anywhere else. Especially if your trusting it to lock your doors! So quality above quantity matters here.
I think Apple need an Echo Dot/Google Home Mini for two reasons:
1. Get more people using Siri, then maybe it will get better. The cost of fitting out your home with HomePod's is just laughable.
2. To act as an always on hub - 'most' people don't want Apple TV, plus it's expensive, and relying on always keeping an iPad charged and kept at home is not robust enough.
I'm not saying Apple are worse, but I wouldn't put them on any pedestal either.
Their latest marketing campaigns might be pushing privacy hard. But that's all it is. Fancy TV adverts, nice posters, and carefully scripted stage shows.
I think you must be mixing up what Apple is doing with the folks over at Amazon, Google and Facebook. If you are you would be wrong.
And all along I thought it was to be profitable corporations. Who knew it was spying? Thanks George.
There's not going to be any winners here. No one company is going to own the home. HomeKit is an abstraction layer not a protocol. It's designed to sit atop underlaying protocols like Wifi or Bluetooth and allow single app control of devices that support multiple protocols. HomeKit then has hooks into the system to enable support from Siri etc. It makes no sense to attempt to take it to another platform.
It's easy to see where we're going here. Most of the large companies are members of the Thread Group. They are actively working on software and hardware enabling IEEE standard 802.15.4 low power IP networking. This in conjunction with the vast channel improvements of Wifi 6 (via OFDMA) is going to enable strong encryption, low power IP addressable local and cloud access protocols that will support legacy protocol like Zigbee but give us more flexibility and integration into hardware.
Look at this list of partners. https://www.threadgroup.org/thread-group#OurMembers
I already know where these companies are going. No one gives two shats about Amazon or Google or Apple as they're just cogs in the wheel, the power of a network is in stability, encryption/security and interoperability.
I think because of security Apple will win in the long run. What they should do is acquire companies to develop products in the low end.
https://www.threadgroup.org/
HomeKit is the framework used by developers. As is HealthKit, UIKit, etc. The user-facing app is simply Home.