How to Build an Apple-Based Smart Home System With the Best HomeKit Devices

You’ll also need to pay attention when you’re picking smart devices. 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. (By comparison, far more devices are compatible with Amazon Alexa, and many also work with Google Assistant/Google Home). And there remain a few categories of devices for which no great HomeKit option exists, most notably smart smoke alarms. 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). 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.