YouTube Archives - Homekit News and Reviews

ThorBolt Smart Latch Lock w/ Thread (video)

The Editor — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:07:17 +0000

If you have a garage door leading to your home, a home office that you want to secure, or have an Airbnb property with a room that only you can access, the Thorbolt MK1 may be ideal for you, as long as you’re an Apple Home user. The MK1 uses HomeKit over Thread, not Bluetooth, so you’ll get fast and consistent reaction times.

Aside from the on-device keypad, there’s also a blazing fast fingerprint reader. Both the keypad and sensor can store up to 100 passcodes/prints, all stored locally.

You can purchase the Thorbolt MK1 from Amazon.com using the (affiliate) link below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

Amazon US

****GIVEAWAY**** For the giveaway, you have a chance to win one of the two locks shown in the video. All you need to do is give the video a ‘thumbs up’, post a comment saying where you’re likely to use the lock, and what country you live in. I will contact the randomly chosen winners directly after approximately 2 weeks from the posting of this video. Be aware that if you are a winner, even though I will ship the lock to you free of charge, you will be responsible for any import duties or taxes.

The post ThorBolt Smart Latch Lock w/ Thread (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Smart Vacuum (video)

The Editor — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:50:54 +0000

SwitchBot make a lot of different products, and with the introduction last year of two of their own robot vacuums, they set out to bring a few innovations to the table. In the case of the K10+, it was its size, which is tiny for a robovac. Now they’ve upped the specs for this diminutive device, with the K10+ Pro, with 20% added suction power, and additional sensor functionality. It’s also Matter compatible, via one of the company’s own Matter hubs.

We tested this device, and compare it to our existing (but now ageing) Roborock S6. Watch the video to see how they compare.

You can purchase the K10+ Pro from Amazon stores in your region using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

The post The SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Smart Vacuum (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (video)

The Editor — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 07:00:37 +0000

Aqara’s first retrofit smart lock for both US and European users is here, and it’s probably going to spell disaster for brands like Nuki, SwitchBot, and August, due to the U200 offering Apple HomeKey via the keypad, which none of the others have yet to achieve. Like all Aqara locks, there are tons of options, so watch the video to see them all in action.

Check out Andy C’s Channel, and his look at the U200 for European users: https://youtu.be/CEfYUkpav5M?si=lMtF-gPPwwdlRyp3

You can purchase the Aqara Smart Lock U200 from Amazon stores in your region using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform. Make sure to use the following limited time discount codes for your region;

20% off (July 9-13) 20LFY6XT
20% off Code (July 9-13) U200EU20

The post The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

SwitchBot Universal Remote w/Matter (video)

The Editor — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:43:57 +0000

The Switchbot Universal Remote is a bit of an oddity, in that in a smart home world, where we’re looking to have as much as possible just work without us having to do anything, this has entered that very world. Is it a step back, or does it really offer genuine use cases. I think it does to an extent, although there are reasons why I think it could be better. Watch to find out more.

You can purchase the Switchbot Universal Remote from Amazon.com today using the affiliate link below. It won’t cost you any more, but will help me to continue reviewing products and sharing my thoughts with you, as they come along.

Amazon US

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Smartmi Air Purifier E1 (video)

The Editor — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 14:40:54 +0000

The Air Purifier E1 is the latest model from Smartmi, and although it came out around a year ago, it’s only recently arrived in North America. It has a great look to it, and can be wall mounted, but the price point might put some off. See my thoughts on this device, and how its specs compare to the company’s other models. You can purchase the Smartmi E1 directly from Smartmi using the link below – NOT an affiliate link.

Smartmi

You can also purchase other products seen in the video below from Amazon.com (affiliate links);

The post Smartmi Air Purifier E1 (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Arylic S10+ Wireless Audio Streamer w/Airplay (video)

The Editor — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 14:15:48 +0000

The Arylic S10+ is an update to the company’s previous streamer, the S10. There have been several improvements made to the new model, which includes things like an OLED display, on-device control, and a USB-C port that doubles as both power and streaming when connected to a PC. It is only AirPlay 1, however, but for some that won’t matter, given the price and features.

You can purchase the Arylic S10+ Wireless Streamer directly from Arylic for US$69.00, but save an extra 10% using the link below and the discount code PRES10+

Arylic.com (not an affiliate link).

The post Arylic S10+ Wireless Audio Streamer w/Airplay (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Aqara Smart Lock U50 (video)

The Editor — Thu, 23 May 2024 13:10:28 +0000

Around a year after the debut of Aqara’s first deadbolt lock, the company has launched a more budget-conscious option that does away with the fingerprint sensor, but retains the very popular Apple HomeKey option. Watch to see my thoughts on this new lock, and how it differs from the U100.

You can purchase the Aqara U50 from Amazon.com using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform. The U50 from is available for US$149.99, but with a special time-limited 20% OFF discount, using the following code – USCAU50P.

Amazon US

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Switchbot Lock Pro (video)

The Editor — Sun, 19 May 2024 12:49:10 +0000

Switchbot is a popular brand, and with the Pro version of their smart lock, they’ve improved the design substantially, but is it enough without Apple HomeKey? Watch to find out our thoughts.

You can purchase the Switchbot Lock Pro from Amazon stores in your region using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

The post Switchbot Lock Pro (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Aqara Hub M3 with Matter and Thread (video)

The Editor — Thu, 09 May 2024 01:56:13 +0000

The Aqara Hub M3 is a major leap forward for Aqara, coming at a time when the smart home landscape is changing due to both Matter and Thread. The M3 is both a Thread Border Router, and a Matter Controller for the Aqara ecosystem, which means for the first time, third-party Matter devices will work in Aqara’s app. There are caveats of course, so watch the full video to know its current limitations, as well as any issues I had with it.

You can purchase the Aqara Hub M3 from Amazon stores in your region using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

For a limited time, you can get 20% off the list price, using the relevant codes below;

North American stores: USCAHUB3 (applicable to Amazon US & Canada)
European stores: HUBM3EU5 (applicable to Amazon France, Germany, Italy, Spain & UK)
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon FR
Amazon DE
Amazon IT
Amazon ES
Amazon UK

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ZemiSmart Roller Shade Motor w/ Matter over Thread (video)

The Editor — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 09:30:23 +0000

ZemiSmart introduced its first Matter (over WiFi) enabled roller blind motor a year ago, and finally they’ve introduced Thread versions of the device. I say ‘versions’ as they have a wired model and a rechargeable battery model, both with Matter over Thread.

This video focuses mostly on the battery version, which gives you, the customer, a pretty budget friendly option that allows you to keep your existing blinds, but is still cheaper compared to retrofit blind motors from companies like Eve, for example. How do they fare? Watch to find out.

You can purchase the ZemiSmart Matter over Thread roller shade motor (battery) from Amazon.com (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

Amazon.com (Matter over Thread, w/battery)

Alternatively, you can purchase directly from ZemiSmart themselves via the link below;

Battery model (Matter over Thread)

Wired model (Matter over Thread)

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