If you haven't already heard, Thread is all the rage these days in the world of HomeKit. Thread combines ultra-fast response times that you get with Wi-Fi, legendary Zigbee reliability, and low-power consumption that comes with Bluetooth into one wireless standard. The best part is that if you have a HomePod mini in your home, you can take advantage of it today with devices like the best smart plugs for HomeKit. If you want to jump in with Thread, then here's our guide to all of your available options.
Where it all begins
HomePod mini - Smart Speaker
Staff Favorite
The HomePod mini acts as the command center for all of your smart home accessories by acting as both a HomeKit hub and a Thread Border Router. With the HomePod mini, you can connect Thread accessories with just a scan of the HomeKit pairing code — no Wi-Fi passwords to enter or accounts to create; it just works. On-device Siri enables hands-free controls, and AirPlay 2 and Apple Music integration makes it the best smart speaker for Apple fans.
$99 at Apple$100 at Best Buy$99 at Walmart
Bright and colorful
Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Smart Thread Bluetooth LED Bulbs
Nanoleaf's Essentials A19 Light Bulb is simply the best HomeKit light bulb that you can buy today — especially if you have a HomePod mini. This bulb packs in millions of fun colors, 1,100 lumens of incredibly bright light, dimming, HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, and of course — Thread. Nanoleaf's bulb is also one of the cheapest HomeKit light bulbs around, so you can add them to every room in your home without breaking the bank.
Power monitoring
Eve Energy - Apple HomeKit Smart Home, Smart Plug & Power Meter
Already one of the best smart plugs for HomeKit, the latest Eve Energy smart plug gets even better thanks to Thread integration. Just plug this compact outlet in and scan the HomeKit pairing code with the Home app, and you are good to go — no accounts or dedicated hubs needed. Eve's smart plug also includes energy monitoring which provides valuable insight into how much your coffee maker or fan costs to keep running.
$40 at Amazon$40 at Best Buy$40 at Walmart
Smart watering
Eve Aqua – Apple HomeKit Smart Home, Smart Water Controller for Sprinkler or Irrigation System
The Eve Aqua showcases Thread's expansive range by bringing HomeKit to the great outdoors. With the Eve Aqua, keeping up with watering your lawn or garden has never been easier since it attaches directly to your outdoor spigot and since it features one-tap controls. In addition, you can create custom watering schedules through HomeKit automation, or if you prefer, you can also make it rain with just your voice through Siri.
$100 at Amazon$100 at Best Buy$100 at Walmart
Lengthy lights
Nanoleaf Essentials 80" | 2M Lightstrip Starter Kit
Just like the Essentials Light Bulb, Nanoleaf's Lightstrip is an incredible value. The 80-inch Essentials Lightstrip — our top pick for best HomeKit Light Strips, brings millions of colors and room-filling light to indoor spaces with a maximum brightness of 2,200 lumens. Other highlights include HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, customizable sizing with extensions that allow it to reach up to 32 feet, and Thread, making it speedy and ultra-reliable.
$50 at Amazon$50 at Best Buy$50 at Apple
DIY security
Eve Door & Window - Apple HomeKit Smart Home Wireless Contact Sensor for Windows & Doors
Eve's compact Door and Window sensor alerts you the moment that someone enters your home through HomeKit notifications. This peel and stick wire-free sensor runs for months on a single battery thanks to Thread's low power consumption, and with a universal two-piece design, you can attach it to pretty much any door or window in your home.
$40 at Amazon$40 at Best Buy$40 at Walmart
Local conditions
Eve Weather - Apple HomeKit Smart Home, Connected Outdoor Weather Station
The Eve Weather provides truly personal weather conditions by measuring the outdoor temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure right outside of your home. The Eve Weather puts all of its data a glance away with an eye-friendly on-device display as well as through the Home app and the Eve for HomeKit app so you can get your local weather fix anytime, anywhere.
$70 at Amazon$70 at Walmart$70 at Apple
Custom colors
Nanoleaf Shapes - Hexagons Smarter Kit
Unleash your creativity by displaying your own custom works of smart art with the Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons. Nanoleaf's modular light panels produce millions of fun colors, and a light peel and stick design go up on the wall in seconds. These panels also support the ability to act as Thread Border Routers so that you can connect Nanoleaf's Essentials line directly to them without a hub.
$200 at Amazon$200 at Best Buy$200 at GameStop
Terrific triangles
Nanoleaf Shapes - Triangles Smarter Kit
Nanoleaf's Shapes Triangles offers all of the same colors and customization as the Shapes Hexagons in a triangle form factor. The triangular shape is perfect for creating designs like musical notes, and with soft rounded corners, they still maintain a playful appearance. Plus, just like other Nanoleaf light panels, the Shapes Triangles act as a Thread Border router for Nanoleaf's Essentials light bulb and light strip.
$200 at Amazon$200 at Best Buy$200 at GameStop
Mighty minis
Nanoleaf Shapes - Mini Triangles Smarter Kit
The Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangles shrink down the overall size of the larger triangles — and the price, without compromising color and customization. The Mini Triangles are an excellent complement to larger Shapes panels as they share the same modular connector so that you can add even more details to your designs. Of course, the Mini Triangles also operate as a Thread Border which adds even more bang for your buck.
$120 at Amazon$120 at Best Buy$120 at GameStop
Classy looks
Nanoleaf Elements - Wood Look Hexagons Smarter Kit
As the name suggests, the Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons mimic the appearance of natural wood with a neutral tone and textured surface. Although they lack RGB capabilities, the Elements offer white color temperature adjustments, and with Thread Border Router support, you can hide an essential piece of the puzzle in plain sight.
$300 at Best Buy$300 at Apple$300 at Home Depot
Lines of light
Nanoleaf Lines Smarter Kit
The latest Nanoleaf light system — the Nanoleaf Lines, takes creativity to a new level with multi-point connectors and snap-on skins. Unlike other Nanoleaf lights, the Lines can display two colors simultaneously per line segment, and they project all of the smart colors toward the wall. Thread Border capabilities can work to extend your existing network or allow for adding other Nanoleaf products.
Give your home an upgrade by adding Thread accessories
Thread is truly a game-changer for HomeKit and the smart home. With Thread, you no longer have to worry about managing dedicated hubs or accounts for every device in your home with its direct to HomePod mini — and HomeKit connection. More importantly, with lightning-fast response times and excellent reliability, you don't have to worry about your smart home suddenly losing its smarts.
If you want to experience the best that Thread offers, then Nanoleaf's Essential A19 Light Bulb is the way to go. Nanoleaf's bulb is cheap, colorful, and incredibly easy to set up — just screw it into a lamp or light fixture like you would with those old-fashioned "dumb" light bulbs. Combined with 1,100 lumens of brightness, HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, and dimming, you get the best HomeKit light bulb available.
Are you looking for a way to beef up the security of your home? The Thread-enabled Eve Door and Window contact sensor can help by delivering timely notifications when someone enters your home. Through the magic of HomeKit, you can take your home's security further by using your HomePod as an alarm, or you can make it appear like someone is always home with HomeKit light switches.
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