iOS 27 is finally here, bringing one of the biggest Apple Home updates we’ve seen in years.
HomeKit Secure Video has been redesigned, Apple Intelligence brings new camera features, energy usage is finally available directly in Apple Home, device setup is faster and Apple TV can now be updated through the Home app.
I’ve been testing these features since the first iOS 27 beta. Here’s what’s new.
HomeKit Secure Video Gets a Redesign
HomeKit Secure Video gets a new interface in iOS 27, bringing recordings from your cameras together and making it easier to move between different views.
There are also improved filters for people, packages, animals and vehicles, making it much easier to find specific events.
HomeKit Secure Video now supports 4K video with compatible cameras too. However, manufacturers need to support Apple’s new framework, which could require both updated firmware and suitable hardware.
At the time of writing, no manufacturer has confirmed 4K HomeKit Secure Video support.
Apple Intelligence Comes to Cameras
Apple Intelligence can now understand what’s happening within your camera recordings.
Rather than simply telling you a person was detected, Apple Home can provide a summary explaining what actually happened, such as somebody approaching your home carrying a package.
Apple Home can also understand related events across multiple cameras. If one camera sees someone arrive, another sees them approaching the house and your doorbell captures the delivery, Apple Home can recognise that these recordings are connected.
Natural Language Camera Search
One of my favourite additions is natural language search.
Instead of scrolling through recordings, you can simply describe what you’re looking for. You could search for a package being delivered, a particular vehicle arriving or even ask when somebody rang your doorbell.
Apple Intelligence then finds the relevant recordings.
Smarter Notifications
Notifications are also getting smarter.
Rather than sending several notifications relating to the same activity, Apple Intelligence can group related events into a single notification that updates as the event develops.
After testing iOS 27 throughout the beta period, I’ve found notification grouping particularly useful.
iCloud Limits for Apple Intelligence Cameras
The new Apple Intelligence camera features do have additional iCloud requirements:
2TB — 1 camera
6TB — 2 cameras
12TB — 5 cameras
Importantly, these are Apple Intelligence camera limits, not new HomeKit Secure Video recording limits. Your existing HomeKit Secure Video camera allowance remains separate.
You can choose which cameras use Apple Intelligence from the new settings within Apple Home.
Your devices also need to be running the latest software, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27 or macOS 27, while your Home hub needs tvOS 27 or HomePod software 27.
Energy Usage Comes to Apple Home
Compatible devices can now display energy usage directly inside Apple Home.
Previously, you would often need to use the manufacturer’s app to see this information. Now supported smart plugs and other accessories can expose their energy data within the Home app.
In the US, compatible energy providers can also work with EnergyKit and Grid Forecast for additional energy information.
It’s relatively basic at launch, but it gives Apple a foundation to expand energy monitoring and potentially energy-based automations in the future.
Update Apple TV Through Apple Home
Apple TV software updates can now be managed through the Apple Home app.
Because Apple TV can act as your Home hub, being able to see and install available updates without going directly to the Apple TV itself is a small but useful improvement.
Faster HomeKit and Matter Setup
Apple has also improved accessory onboarding.
Adding HomeKit and Matter devices should now be faster, with an updated setup process that also lets you make choices such as selecting the device icon while adding the accessory.
During my testing, adding devices has certainly felt quicker, although this will depend on the accessory and your network.
Apple Intelligence Comes to Shortcuts
Shortcuts also gets a major Apple Intelligence upgrade.
You can use natural language to describe what you want to achieve, with Apple Intelligence helping build the necessary actions and logic.
Apple hasn’t introduced fully AI-generated Apple Home automations, but it’s easy to see the potential. In the future, complicated smart home routines could become much easier to create without manually building every individual action.
One of Apple Home’s Biggest Updates in Years
iOS 27 brings a redesigned HomeKit Secure Video experience, 4K support, intelligent camera summaries, natural language search, smarter notifications, cross-camera understanding, energy monitoring, faster device setup and better Apple TV management.
But the most interesting change is Apple Intelligence.
Apple Home is beginning to move beyond simply controlling devices and towards actually understanding what is happening around your home.
And that could ultimately be the biggest Apple Home change in iOS 27.
