Key Takeaways
- HomeKit isn’t just limited to homeowners: There are plenty of great accessories for apartment dwellers, too.
- Many HomeKit accessories are apartment-friendly and don’t require any wiring changes or drilling, making them ideal for renters.
- HomeKit security cameras like the Eufy C120 offer privacy features like HomeKit Secure Video, ensuring your footage is encrypted and stored securely in iCloud.
Home automation can be a lot of fun. Although it can be frustrating at times, Apple HomeKit seeks to make the experience more unified and accessible. As an Apple enthusiast, I was naturally drawn to HomeKit as a smart home solution. Since first trying it out in late 2016, I’ve installed HomeKit in two apartments, one condo, and most recently one house, with over 100 HomeKit accessories.
Home automation can often feel like a homeowner’s game, with many HomeKit accessories requiring you to rewire your thermostat or light switches or replace your door locks. Don’t worry, if you live in an apartment and are interested in home automation, there are still plenty of great, non-intrusive options. Here’s a list of apartment-friendly HomeKit accessories that require no rewiring or drilling, and your landlord won’t even notice.
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6 Meross Smart Plug
Incredible convenience
Amazon/Pocket-lint
Smart plugs offer the simple ability to turn appliances like lamps on and off remotely or via scheduled routines. Smart plugs are especially great for spaces that lack overhead lighting and need lamps. In the past, I’ve grouped multiple smart plugs together to turn multiple lamps on and off at the same time, instead of manually turning them on and off one at a time.
Meross is a HomeKit brand I’ve been using for the last few years due to its affordability, availability on Amazon, and reliability, which has made it my go-to for smart plugs. Meross offers single-outlet and dual-outlet versions. The single-outlet models can be purchased in two-, three-, or four-packs with discounts on Amazon, while the dual-outlet models can be purchased in two-packs.
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Five Philips Hue Light Bulbs
OG HomeKit Brand
Amazon/Pocket-lint
Philips Hue Light Bulbs
Set the mood lighting appropriately.
Of course, in an apartment, you can’t just remove a simple light switch and replace it with a smart one, which is why smart light bulbs are a great solution. Philips Hue bulbs were among the first to support HomeKit. Ever since I started using HomeKit, Philips Hue has been my top pick for smart light bulbs. Since then, companies like IKEA, Meross, LIFX, and VOCOlinc have come out with competing options, each with their own pros and cons.
However, Philips Hue remains the market leader. Hue bulbs are expensive, but they do require a hub and are known for being reliable. Philips Hue offers a wide range of bulbs for different temperatures, colors, fixtures, and appliances. Whether you need a basic white smart bulb, a colored bulb, or a special bulb for your oven, Philips Hue has you covered.
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Four August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
Eight years later, it’s still going strong
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August Home Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation)
$130 $230 Save $100
Smart locks are one of the most popular smart home products among consumers. The challenge for renters is that most smart locks also replace the keys used, which is unacceptable for landlords who need access to the property. The solution is August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock. This smart lock, which supports HomeKit, only replaces the back of the door’s deadbolt, not the lock on the front. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is an easy upgrade for renters to replace the back of the door with this little motor. This upgrade does not violate the lease agreement, and the key remains the same, making it easy to take to a new location. In fact, my friends have been using their old August Wi-Fi Smart Lock for at least six years, in addition to the two years I used it before.
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3 Mysa AC Controller
Cool and versatile
Amazon/Pocket-lint
Mysa AC Controller
$99 $139 Save $40
Air conditioners are a category supported by HomeKit, but surprisingly few are available on the market. Luckily, there’s a great alternative: the Mysa AC Controller. This HomeKit accessory is essentially an IR blaster for AC units and heat pumps. Use the Mysa app and your AC unit remote to configure the Mysa AC Controller to communicate with your cooling equipment. The Mysa AC Controller appears like a thermostat in HomeKit, giving you control options available. The Mysa AC Controller just needs a clear light line to your AC unit or heat pump. Again, just take it with you when you leave the apartment. No mess, no hassle. Extremely versatile.
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2 Eufy C120 Indoor Camera
HomeKit Secure Video Wins
Amazon/Pocket-lint
Eufy Security Indoor Camera C120 2 Camera Kit
We know you might be hesitant to install security cameras in your home. The thought of being watched can be creepy, to say the least. But with HomeKit, you can easily set compatible cameras to turn on when you leave and turn off when you return. As a pet owner, it’s nice to be able to keep an eye on your dog and home while you’re away, but you also want some privacy when you’re home.
I found the Eufy C120 indoor cameras to be a great and inexpensive way to achieve this. I chose these cameras because they support HomeKit Secure Video as part of my iCloud+ subscription, so all of my video footage is never seen by Eufy or Apple, it’s encrypted by my HomeKit home hub and then stored in an unreadable format on Apple’s servers. The Eufy C120 can be purchased fairly cheaply on Amazon and requires nothing but a power outlet. I recommend mounting it with command strips to avoid damaging your walls.
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1 Accent lighting
More Choices
Braden Newell/Pocket-lint
Next to smart plugs and smart bulbs for lamps, accent lighting is an easy, non-permanent way to personalize your apartment with HomeKit. There are countless candidates, including Meross smart lamps, Philips Hue Go, Philips Hue Bloom, Nanoleaf Shapes and Nanoleaf Lines. As with the Eufy camera, we recommend attaching the Nanoleaf Shapes and Lines with command strips for easy removal and repositioning. Smart lighting is great for setting the mood with color, brightening a space without having to turn on the main room lights, and turning off with an app or voice.
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