The State of Apple Home in 2026: Is This the Year… or Is It Too Late?

We've heard rumors of Apple releasing new smart home products and updates for years… but here we are in 2026 — and we’re still waiting. In this video, I take an honest look at where Apple Home actually stands today. What’s good? What’s bad? And what needs to change if Apple really wants to compete with Alexa, Google, and Home Assistant. From Matter and Thread support, to Siri’s delayed Apple Intelligence upgrade, to the long-rumored Apple smart home hub — here’s the current state of Apple Home in 2026. --- 🔧 Want to build your own Apple smart home? Subscribe for weekly deep dives, product reviews, and automation ideas that actually work. 🛎️ I also livestream every Wednesday — join the conversation and get your questions answered live! 📦 My Smart Home Gear (2026 Updated): https://shanewhatley.com/my-setup/ --- 👋 LET’S CONNECT 🎙️ New Podcast! "Wife Approved" – real talk about marriage, parenting & smart home life    / @wifeapprovedpodcast   ❤️ Join the channel and get exclusive member perks https://geni.us/shanemember 👕 Merch Store [https://geni.us/ShaneCreatesShop](https://geni.us/ShaneCreatesShop) ► Instagram –   / shanecreates   ► Website – http://shanewhatley.com --- 🎥 WATCH NEXT ▶ The Complete Apple Home Masterclass – Start here    • The Complete Apple Home Masterclass (Start...   ▶ UWB Unlocking First Look – Aqara U400 Smart Lock    • Apple’s UWB Unlocking Is Finally Here — Aq...   --- 🕦 CHAPTERS 0:00 - We're Still Waiting… 0:50 - What's Good? What's Bad? 2:31 - Rumor Rant 4:08 - Matter, Thread, Local Control 5:26 - Apple Home App 6:50 - Siri and Apple Intelligence (& Google Gemini) 8:30 - Could 2026 Finally Be the Year? 9:00 Final Thoughts + What I’d Like to See 10:27 - What Do You Think? #AppleHome #SmartHome #HomeKit #Matter #AppleIntelligence #Siri #HomeAutomation #HomeAssistant