HomePod or Apple TV for HomeKit hub?

Question

HomePod or Apple TV for HomeKit hub?

I’m trying to decide whether to get a HomePod (mini) or a Apple TV (and which model) to use as a HomeKit hub. My primary goal is effective automation of lights and other gizmos, and a good integration with the Home App and shortcuts on the iPhone.

On the one hand, I don’t need or want a voice assistant or the speaker in the HomePod. I’d basically turn Siri off and plug it into the LAN in a closet and let run.

On the other hand, I don’t need another TV gizmo either. While I’m sure the Apple TV has a few apps that would be useful (iTunes), that’s gravy.

I’ve been looking at used or refurbished 4th Gen TV HD for $70-80. One thing that concerns me is that none of the online reviews of the Apple TV line discuss how effective it is at functioning as a HomeKit hub. That makes me suspect it’s not really a good use for the device.

Ive also send some 3rd Gen Apple TV devices, which might do, but I worry the support lifespan is probably very limited at this point.

I guess the question is whether the Apple TV (and which generation) will really work seamlessly as a hub if I don’t use it as a TV very much, or if I should spent more money for something that is specifically designed as a hub but also has a voice assistant I want to cripple?

(And, darn it, why won’t Apple let me use any of my Mac desktops as a HomeKit hub? They’re always on and in the home. Grr!)

Posted on Dec 27, 2021 6:10 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 27, 2021 8:26 AM in response to dylanfromdurham

I would only get an Apple TV 4k (A12, 2nd generation) in this day and age. Reason is, the 4th generation has an A8 chip and I feel is at risk of being dropped in the near future and I believe the latest model even supports being a Thread border router. (Plus as an Apple TV it has an Ethernet port, and you can set it up to display cameras I think as well).

A HomePod Mini can also do the latter, and it will be useful for controlling devices with your voice. `

If say you have an iPad Air 2 (or any older unused iPad capable of iPadOS 15) laying around, you can use that as a HomeKit hub, by simply enabling it in settings.

(I do agree with the last point, it would make total sense for Macs to support being HomeKit hubs).

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,351 points

Dec 27, 2021 6:26 AM in response to dylanfromdurham

See Set up your HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, or iPad as a home hub - Apple Support. Apple TV 3 isn't able to take on the Home Hub role. I don't know which of Apple TV or HomePod do a better job of operating as the hub. I've got both and I don't pay attention to which is the active hub. I had issues originally which, it turns out, were due to my old router. I've only got the one accessory (an RGBW lamp) for testing but that has been quite reliable for the last year or so. Prior to that I used to have to reboot everything every few days.

tt2

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Answer 3

Dec 27, 2021 7:37 AM in response to turingtest2

Frequent troubleshooting is something I’d like to avoid (obviously). Do you know what specifically your old router was doing to cause the problem? My LAN is over-complicated already (I’m running a double-NAT for reasons that are probably not worth going in to). So if a router is going to cause a headache, I’d like to know why in advance so I can plan around it.

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Answer 4

turingtest2

Level 10

278,351 points

Dec 27, 2021 10:49 AM in response to dylanfromdurham

I don't have the model number to hand, but was a old D-Link that I picked up about seven years ago. I think it was quite limited on the number of devices it would support.

tt2

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HomePod or Apple TV for HomeKit hub?

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