Hi John,
In the meantime, I’ve been transitioning to Apple HomeKit, and I would say I’m about 85% done. The main reason for this decision was the lack of support for European TRVs. While HomeKit does require third-party apps to create complex automation rules, I find it to be very stable overall.
Whenever possible, I’ve opted for Matter devices over Thread. My Thread network has proven to be exceptionally strong—I haven’t experienced a single unresponsive device. One of the key advantages of HomeKit is its redundancy: if you have multiple Apple TVs, HomePods, or HomePod Minis, they all act as controllers, ensuring that if one fails, another seamlessly takes over. I haven’t seen any other system with such a reliable fallback mechanism.
That said, I believe that user experiences can vary significantly, even within the same ecosystem. No two homes are alike, and factors such as the placement of the central hub, wall materials, thermal insulation (especially if aluminum foil is involved), the location of wired repeater devices, and even the selected network channel can all influence performance.
On Hubitat, there is a setting for signal strength that defaults to an energy-efficient mode, but it can be adjusted to a higher level—something many users may not be aware of. In HomeKit, you can also fine-tune the signal strength per repeater device, which provides some flexibility in optimizing coverage.
A few years ago, I invested in three ASUS XT-8 access points to eliminate Wi-Fi dead spots in my home, and now I can maintain a strong connection even from about 15 meters outside. However, last week, I replaced one of my last Eufy cameras with a HomeKit-compatible camera and placed it at the corner of my house. Despite being only six meters away from the access point, with just an exterior wall in between, there was no signal. The issue was the angle—the signal had to travel not only through the 40 cm outer wall but also along a second wall at an angle for about four meters. A simple $25 repeater solved the problem when placed on the opposite side of the room.
Of course, HomeKit has some limitations, but many of them can be worked around. After using it for several months, I wouldn’t consider switching back to another system. And even in the unlikely event that Apple were to discontinue HomeKit—which seems improbable given their renewed commitment to smart home technology—my Matter devices would remain compatible with numerous other platforms available today.
Thank you for sharing your experience, and have a great day!
