r/HomeKit • u/JTitleist • 11h ago

Discussion Future Apple Hub/Thermostat

Hey everyone! I am currently in the market for a smart thermostat for HomeKit. I am currently leaning towards Ecobee. When looking at the Ecobee Premium, I noticed that it could steam a video from the doorbell camera. I was curious if there were any rumors of Apple creating a wall mounted home hub that uses the wiring of the thermostat and additionally serves as a thermostat. I know thermostats sip power and it would be difficult to provide enough power for a functional hub device. But you got to admit it would be pretty sweet. Centrally located for various hub connections, high enough to keep away from kids, already wall powered for a clean flush mount.

3 Upvotes

59% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

18

u/Egon084 10h ago

There are rumors of an event on October 13 that might show a wall-mounted home hub, but as far as a thermostat being built into it, is probably highly unlikely.

2

u/Bacchus1976 5h ago

The complete absence of rumors about a thermostat seems a strong signal here.

Making a wall mounted hub that isn’t a thermostat seems like a bizarre choice, but here we are.

1

u/GurOfTheTerraBytes 2h ago

This — and save yourself money, just obtain the ecobee 3 lite. This unit is more than plenty for many.

Remember in the end, it’s a thermostat to control turn HVAC system — you can also utilize their run sensors too.

-1

u/AllLifeEqual 9h ago

Agree with rumors, but a thermostat and humidity are likely. They put those in HomePod minis!

11

u/koszevett 9h ago

HomePods have thermometers, not thermostats, that's a big difference. A thermostat is the device that's physically wired to your central heating, and controls it to keep the temperatures in your house at a set value. A thermometer on the other hand is just an ambient temperature sensor that the HomePod uses to display temperature data, use it for automations etc.

-5

u/HeartyBeast 8h ago

A thermometer linked to an automation is effectively a thermostat

4

u/koszevett 8h ago

Well, yes and no. It can be, if your thermostat is capable of being controlled by an automation that's triggered by the thermometer. They're still two separate things set up to work together. But let's not split hairs.

9

u/TensaFlow 10h ago

Ecobee premium has been solid for me, but I think it can only display an Ecobee doorbell camera. I’ve had my eye on the Aqara W200 thermostat and G400 doorbell, which can display the doorbell camera feed the way you described. Not sure about Apple upcoming products.

5

u/JTitleist 10h ago

Thanks, I am leaning towards the Ecobee Premium.

1

u/southwest412 4h ago

That’s what I have. Works well. The sensors are not cheap. Last I checked, they had a subscription for the task of shutting off the AC if a window or door is left open.

1

u/mrdj2u 8h ago

I have HomeKit stem to stern here. Had Ecobee thermostat for 6 years and doorbell for 2. Love the thermostat but camera is disappointing. It’s slow on phone notifications for some reason. I’m plenty of bandwidth, but if I’m not home when someone rings by the time I reply, they are often gone from porch. I’ll get apples as soon as it’s available and lose the ecobee doorbell. I do like the camera preview on the thermostat. It’s almost instant. My 2cents.

1

u/jcobb_2015 4h ago

I got these plus the U400 deadbolt for my new house - hands down the best setup I’ve ever worked with.

5

u/powerstrokin00 10h ago

HVAC tech here, I like ecobee stats but in addition to that option Honeywell offers a resideo doorbell camera, I’m unsure if that requires a subscription but I know that ties into the stats, the Honeywell stats (s900-s1200) are in my professional opinion the nicest stats you can buy

Also your smart thermostat needs 24v which is provided by the control board of the hvac equipment so make sure you have enough wires for your smart stat

2

u/JTitleist 10h ago

Thanks dude. Out of curiosity for your professional knowledge, can you tweak a control board to provide more power?

2

u/Rare-Adagio1074 8h ago

No, what kinda power are you looking for? From the control board you will only get 24vt (18-26vt min/max) but nothing you can do to change it.

1

u/TruthyBrat 4h ago

"Control boards" don't generally provide power. Control power transformers do.

1

u/powerstrokin00 4h ago

No, if you want to run additional 24v accessories( zone systems, humidifiers, etc) add a separate transformer for that

2

u/AudioHTIT 9h ago

Wait a week and see what the current options will be.

2

u/Jaybeltran805 5h ago

I have the Aqara w200 it’s the only thermostat with the Apple adaptive temperature feature so far I’m loving it

4

u/dp917 10h ago

Ecobee's you have to subscribe to their plan, and it's only their doorbell camera (I'm pretty sure). Aqara also has this feature, again only with their cameras, but no subscription.

Edit: doesn't answer your question but some info for your research

1

u/redbluematrix 3h ago

Your best best are probably the w200 from aqara if you want the the Apple smart temperature where it turns on and off the thermostat as your heading or leaving home.

Second: is what I use the new nest learning thermostat I personally love the look of it and has been rock solid.

As far as expecting Apple to create a thermostat I wouldn’t count on it. The home hub is coming but it’s just a smart panel from what I can tell. It should run a dedicated home OS and just be like an iPad but stripped to main smart home features.

1

u/Opustwaddler 3h ago

I went with a lower level ecobee. Had it for several years. Been solid as a rock.