Home and Siri: Apple postpones support for vacuum robots until next year
The control of robot vacuums via Apple's Home app and Siri is still a long time coming. German-speaking users will have to wait even longer.
(Image: Icon: Apple)
- Leo Becker
The integration of robot vacuum cleaners into Apple Home, which many users had hoped for, remains a dream of the future for the time being. The function is not due to be added in an update until early 2025, as Apple notes in an updated footnote on the Home product page. Originally, the important extension was promised for iOS 18 in 2024. Users will ultimately be able to control vacuum robots via Apple Home and integrate them into automations and scenes, for example.
Vacuum robots must support Matter
Apple promises that Home will support the core functions of these devices in future, such as different modes for vacuuming and mopping, insight into the charging status and switching on and off. The connection appears to be planned purely for robotic vacuum cleaners that support the Matter smart home standard. Corresponding updates are now available for the first models, for example from Switchbot.
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Users can issue voice commands via the Siri assistance system to robotic vacuum cleaners integrated into Apple Home. Despite the delayed launch, this will only work in US English for now, as Apple notes in the small print. It remains to be seen when the robot vacuums will also understand German-language Siri commands.
The announced support for robot vacuums is one of the biggest enhancements for Apple Home and is likely to follow with iOS 18.3 or iOS 18.4, the latter of which is expected to be released in April 2025.
New smart home launch expected from Apple
Since the bumpy introduction of a new HomeKit architecture and the redesign of the Home app in iOS 16 two years ago, relatively little has happened around Apple's smart home system –, but a lot of work seems to be going into the integration of the cross-industry standard Matter in the background. According to reports, Apple is planning a new smart home initiative for 2025, which will also include a new product category from the manufacturer: Under discussion is a square Apple smart display that will serve as a home control center.
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