Smart home technology has been evolving for years, but 2026 marks a turning point. For the first time, smart homes are no longer fragmented, complicated, or brand-locked.

Apple’s smart home ecosystem is changing. Apple HomeKit — the name we’ve known for nearly a decade — is evolving into Apple Home. But what does that mean for your existing devices, automations, and how you control your home?

Choosing the right ecosystem — the platform that connects and controls all your smart devices — determines how easy your system is to use.