When you think of smart home devices, the first things that probably come to mind are smart speakers, smart lighting products, or maybe smart thermometers. But there's a whole world of smart home products out there, many of which you've probably never heard of.

While they may not have achieved the fame of other products, these devices can completely change how you choose to set up your home. In this piece, we'll talk about some less-known Apple HomeKit-compatible smart home products that can give your home an upgrade.

What Is Apple HomeKit?

Apple HomeKit is one of the most significant home automation frameworks in the smart home space. It is Apple's answer to Google's Home and Amazon's Alexa smart home ecosystem. The software framework is the underlying technology that allows you to control your smart home devices from Apple devices like iPad, iPhone, and Mac, as long as they're compatible with HomeKit.

HomeKit provides the foundational infrastructure for software developers to make applications that can be controlled by Apple devices. So, when we say a smart home product is Apple HomeKit-compatible, it means you'll potentially be able to control those products from, say, your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook. You can read our Apple HomeKit explainer to learn more.

HomeKit Products Worth Exploring

Want to take your smart home to a new level? Here are HomeKit-compatible products that you can add to your smart home arsenal.

1. Water Controllers

An installed Eva smart water controller unit

Sure, HomeKit-compatible water controllers aren't the first thing you'd think of when making a shopping list, but they can be incredibly useful if you have a small garden or lawn to irrigate. Once you've secured a water source and set it up, you don't have to worry about remembering to water your flowers or crops, the whole process becomes automated. Also, for those periods you go on a vacation away from home, smart water sprinklers can ensure your greeneries get the water they need to survive until you return.

Like the idea? You can start with Eve's Aqua Smart Water Controller. After installation, you can control your sprinkler or irrigation system from the Eve app on your Apple device from anywhere as long as you've set up an Apple smart home hub.

2. Window Shades and Blinds

Smart window blinds

HomeKit-compatible window blinds and shades introduce convenience and style to how you manage your window shades at home. With a simple voice command or a tap of a smartphone button, you can open and close your blinds without having to walk down to your window every time you need to do it. You can also automate the process. Need your blinds to open at sunrise and automatically close at sunset? HomeKit-compatible window blinds can help out with that. To start out, take a look at something like the SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades.

3. Smart Ceiling Fans

smart ceiling fan installed in a room

It wasn't that long ago that you had to pull a cord to control a ceiling fan. Not anymore. Feeling too tired to walk down to your fan controller on the wall? A HomeKit-compatible ceiling fan can be controlled with simple voice commands. You can also schedule when your fan comes on and when it goes off. The Hunter Smart Ceiling Fans product line is a great place to begin your shopping.

4. Smart Locks

A person holding a white iPhone near a smart lock on a white door

Smart locks are one of the fastest-growing smart home product lines that are compatible with the Apple HomeKit. Back from shopping with groceries in your hand? Well, you'd still have to dig out your keys from your pocket. HomeKit-compatible smart locks could come in handy in such situations. Raise your wrist and tell your Apple Watch to open the door and that's it.

Smart locks also offer remote access, enhanced security, and peace of mind. You can remotely open your home's front door for a visitor while you are literally halfway across the world. You'll also sleep better at night knowing that all your doors are locked by simply swiping through your iPhone or iPad to check. Some of the many options include the August Smart Lock or the Level Lock Smart Lock.

5. Garage Door Openers

Smart Garage Door

Good old garage doors are great, but they have limitations that you shouldn't have to put up with in the age of smart homes. Every time you return home, you'd have to exit your car, open the garage door, drive in and come back to close the door. That's something a smart garage door can automate for you.

Apart from the ease of access, remote access and ensuring that your garage is sealed when not in use are some good reasons you should try out some smart garage door openers. Depending on the brand, you should also be able to access a time-stamped log of visitors and family members who used the garage door. The Meross Smart Garage Door Opener Remote can work with your existing set up.

6. Smart Air Conditioner Controllers

An installed AC controller

No, it's not just about turning on your air conditioner with voice commands, smart air conditioner controllers offer much more. Although you'll find air conditioners that are compatible with HomeKit, the list is very small and the available products aren't exactly widely available as we'd like. Smart air conditioner controllers fix this loophole. They give you the ability to turn your good old air conditioner into a smart air conditioner that you can automate.

Wondering what you can do with smart air conditioner controllers? You can schedule when your AC goes on and off. You can set it to turn off when the weather gets too cold. Some smart air conditioners like the Sensibo Air come with geo-fencing features. This means you can program your air conditioner to start cooling your home when you're returning from work, maybe when you're a few kilometers away. You can also program it to turn off once you leave home. Since it's Apple HomeKit-compatible, you can also enjoy interoperability with other products you already own.

There's Much More to See

The HomeKit ecosystem continues to grow at a rapid rate. It's no more just smart speakers and light bulbs. New categories of products are certified and introduced to the market at a rapid pace. Your home doesn't have to be stuck with the limitations of the past when you can utilize all the benefits that come with a modern HomeKit-powered smart. There are a lot of products that can help you achieve this if you take the time to look.