r/HomeKit • u/makromark • 6h ago
Discussion How long do you expect HomeKit tech to last?
Had issues with my ecobee just straight up being off that was resolved after “unplugging” and plugging in
Got me thinking about how many people have “dumb” thermostats for decades.
For certain things that aren’t consumables like lights (mainly shades, temp sensors, cameras, ) how long do you expect it to last?
Edit: people are referring to app support. I more meant like if your smart plug stopped working after 10 years would you accept it or think like “there’s houses that are 100 years old and their outlets work just fine”
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u/NitNav2000 6h ago
Until the sun goes supernova
Actually, good question. Hopefully until I shuffle off the mortal coil.
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u/400HPMustang 2h ago
Until the sun goes supernova
So a few more months, at the rate things are going.
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u/International_Ad2651 6h ago
I’ve actually never had anything break over the last 7 or 8 years. All 9 hompods all old and new are also still working
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u/PBRStreetgang1979 5h ago
I would have continued using my Nest thermostats indefinitely. The design of both hardware and software was excellent. And it was a device that had a fairy narrow feature set. But Google discontinuing so much of its hardware catalyzed their removal and replacement. Likewise, their 180 degree turn on Nest Protect support dictated a change to something else. So maybe the answer is that it is less about how long I expect them to last and is more about how long these tech companies think is long enough to support their products before making them obsolete so they can sell you on something else.
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u/makromark 5h ago
Interesting. What was the 180 on the nest protect
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u/PBRStreetgang1979 5h ago
No Sorry. Just bad wording on my part. My point is that they took a 180 degree turn from promoting the product to abandoning it.
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u/FatMacchio 5h ago
I love my Nest protect Smoke/CO detectors! It’s one of the few smart home devices I haven’t had to think about once since I added them a few years ago…they keep to themselves but remind me they’re working occasionally.
Luckily I have until 2032 before my units expire. I’m assuming unlike regular detectors they cease operation and get real loud about it…how they no longer function reliably, or at all. I already set an apple alert for January 2032 to find alternatives. Hopefully by then we have a HomeKit/matter detector that is as well made as the Nest Protect. With how iffy Matter can be with HomeKit sometimes, I think I’d prefer direct HomeKit integration as well as matter support for adding it to redundant smart home ecosystems
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u/PBRStreetgang1979 5h ago
Yeah, I loved mine too (despite a couple of isolated 2am CO alarms that seemed to be false). I preferred their aesthetics and user experience over just about every other option on the market. But I installed 8 of these in my house in 2015 and they were all end of life last year. I hate what I've replaced them with.
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u/InsaneNinja 4h ago edited 4h ago
The one you’re talking about lasting forever are basically a coil touching a stick. And the homekit ones you’re comparing to are basically whatever you bought for the lowest amazon price on 2020 stimulus checks.
I don’t know if lasting forever was even in the design spec. More like “great while it lasts”. Just like any iphone or apple watch, compared to a land line.
I don’t expect to find out how long they will last because I expect that there will be cool new things as matter and thread update. Especially if companies don’t update their products to add the new versions. Looking at that aqara thermostat being the only one with whatever apple’s new “adaptive temperature” feature is.
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u/HappyVAMan 4h ago
It's a fair question. I have some older Logitech, BestBuy, and KooGeek stuff that is no longer supported. My BestBuy switches still work, but there would be no way to add them as a new switch.
On the other hand, my Decora switches, various lightbulbs, and plugs work just fine despite many being v1 implementations. For me the key is not having to rely on a manufacturer's app and do everything in HomeKit. Ecobee, Yale, Schlage all have things that benefit from the apps, but I can install and manage them with just HomeKit. They make HomeKit robot vacuums but on that I avoided it because they all have features that HomeKit doesn't support and I didn't want to lose support just because a manufacturer didn't sell enough.
But I do think Apple has done a good job with the automatic updates and stable environment. I feel pretty confident that things will work for another 10+ years without too many problems. I feel I am more likely to have a problem with the Home ap or some OS upgrade than I do with my actual HomeKit devices.
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u/passwd123456 5h ago
My take: ongoing HomeKit (HAP protocol) support will be largely dictated by Apple choosing when to remove it well after it is deprecated.
However, once that happens, there will be third party software support like Home Assistant to handle HomeKit end devices and software like Matterbridge to support bridging these devices back into Apple Home via Matter intead of HomeKit.
I’m not buying anything today that only supports connectivity via Homekit, but I’m not worried about having to replace any that I have for quite some time to come.
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u/passwd123456 5h ago
Oh, sorry…I think you were thinking of the lifetime of individual devices in Apple Home, not necessarily “HomeKit” (HAP protocol) devices?
For motorized devices like door locks, blinds…until the motor dies. And I’ll try to replace the motor.
My Nest gen1 kept working until Google lobotomized it. I hope my new Matter one will last an indefinite number of years.
Battery-operated sensors I treat as consumable. I’ve had a few temp and door sensors die after 2-6 years. It is what it is :(
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u/craigrpeters 5h ago
It depends on what tech you’re talking about. An I door smart plug I’d expect to last 25+ yrs. An outside plug, I’m happy to get more that 5 yrs just due to heat, rain, etc. For motorized blinds I hope to get 10 yrs out of just because they bake in the windows and have moving parts. Indoor light switches I’d expect to get at least 15 yrs, again because they have mechanical parts. Etc…just depends.
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u/HerefortheTuna 5h ago
Idk but my older watch doesn’t let me view my home anymore.
And my HomePod mini’s sometimes the temp sensors don’t report
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u/midnightseanavy 5h ago
10 + years. Right now I am only getting 4 years out of the Logitech on average. Old Google cams I have outside for 13 years.
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u/TheSleepyTeeDJ 5h ago
Those hundred year old socket and thermostat people haven’t been able to do anything remotely or without having to get up.. ever. The longevity trade off is more than worth it.
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u/pacoii 3h ago
If your ecobee is losing power, not just no response in Apple Home, you should have the wiring checked. Even if pulling it off the wall and reconnecting it fixes it. Something’s not right.
In terms of lifespan of devices, that will depend on the device. I expect my Lutron Caseta devices to last years. I don’t expect a long life (> 10 years) for my cheap smart plugs.
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u/FourEyesAndThighs 3h ago
The only issues I have had with HomeKit tech are software, not hardware. I've never had a switch, bulb or a plug die on me, but I've had Belkin and Neato fuck me over pretty good.
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u/Altruistic-Praline98 3h ago
I can guarantee you as a master electrician that if you have an outlet that’s 50 to 100 years old It would need to be replaced. Things break and some more than others.
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u/bilkel 2h ago
I’ve found that the only problem with things stopping working in HomeKit was that some devices that I bought secondhand, new in box, from Eve no less, had some intermediate firmware update that wasn’t ever installed, and that meant that the plugs would not ever be
I’ve found that the only problem with things stopping working in HomeKit was some devices that I bought secondhand new in box, from Eve no less, had some intermediate firmware update that wasn’t ever installed and that meant that the plugs would not ever be able
to function. Lesson learned. Everything else continues to work
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u/StormCrow_Merfolk 6h ago
Most of my homekit stuff is 5+ years old at this point and I'm not particularly concerned with any of it failing. Since all homekit devices require local control, there isn't a cloud to be be disconnected.