With this week’s release of iOS 18, adding smart home devices to Apple Home just got a lot easier. The update brings direct local control of Matter devices to newer iPhones, meaning all you need to set up and control them is an iPhone that can run iOS 18 — no hub or border router required. This is good news for anyone interested in dabbling in smart home gadgets who isn’t ready to go all in.
Matter is a new standard designed to simplify the smart home. Compatible devices work over Wi-Fi or Thread, a protocol specifically designed for IoT gadgets. With iOS 18, you can now add any Wi-Fi device to Apple Home with just an iPhone. For Thread devices, you’ll need an iPhone with a Thread radio (iPhone 15 Pro or newer).
This doesn’t mean you s…