The release of iPadOS 16 drew a lot of attention for Apple’s tablet ecosystem and once once more demonstrated how the company is committed to pushing the limits of this form factor once more and once more. Features like on-screen scheduling and virtual memory, while not technically new, take the latest iPad a notch closer to an ideal laptop replacement.
With iPadOS 16, you can no longer use your old iPad as a HomeKit smart home hub
The details surrounding iPadOS 16 are beginning to emerge, some of which are confusing, and the most disappointing should be that in the new system, the biggest way out for removing retired old iPads is to stay. Use as a smart home hub display at home. Although Apple has long been investing in the smart home market through its HomeKit platform, some believe that Apple has been slow to respond to some trends in home automation, such as Apple still not launching its own smart home displays. Apple would prefer HomeKit users to use their Apple HomePod speaker or Apple TV as a HomeKit hub, but at least so far, more creative users have found a way around the problem.
Just like the iPhone, the iPad can access HomeKit, and some have turned it into a HomeKit smart display, which is really a convenient way to access home apps from the larger screen without turning on the TV and talking to Siri. Unfortunately, Twitter user Tech Crtr spotted a note in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 revealing that things will change and the iPad will be homeless as far as HomeKit apps are concerned.
I just noticed this little tidbit in the footnotes for iOS 16, iPad’s are no longer Home Hubs from iPadOS 16, in my home app the only iPad that shows is my iPad mini which is still on iOS 15. You now need a HomePod or Apple TV if you require a home hub @followhomekit pic.twitter.com/DYq5THN63N
— Tech Crtr (@techcrtr) June 8, 2022
In the note, it is written: “Share the family and receive family notifications requires a family center, only Apple TV and HomePod are supported by this to become a smart home hub”, clearly excluding the iPad. This makes sense to some extent, since the iPad can be moved around at any time, while the smart home hub has to stay at home, and having Apple TV and HomePod as the only supported home hubs ensures that you don’t accidentally Take the iPad “Smart Display” out the door and turn off the smart home settings.
At the same time, the iPad is no longer suitable as a mobile device for some reason, and using the iPad as the home hub may be a way to prolong the life of the iPad. These tablets are often left at home, perhaps for home use, and offer a dedicated home hub display that frees up space on your iPhone and iPad for everyday use. Again, Apple still lists the iPad as a device that can be used as a home hub on the support webpage, as shown in the screenshot below. It’s unclear why the company changed its mind regarding this particular usage, and in any case, these older iPads might suddenly find themselves without a purpose, even if they’re capable of running iPadOS 16.
HomeKit itself hasn’t changed much in iOS 16, and it feels more like an incremental upgrade than a completely revolutionary one. These include a new Home app with a more streamlined user interface and a new view page that shows all rooms and accessories at a glance. It does lay the groundwork for supporting the new Matter cross-platform smart home standard, but when it’s released later this year, it will also only work on Apple TV and HomePod.