LIFX smarbulbs gain long-delayed support for Apple's HomeKit

Several LIFX smartbulbs are now compatible with Apple's HomeKit, the company announced on Thursday, in a move which could bolster attempts to compete with Philips' popular Hue series.

Compatibility currently includes various LIFX, LIFX GU10, LIFX Downlight, and LIFX+ models. To upgrade, owners must download the LIFX 3.8.1 app update, then install new firmware. The app will guide users through setting up HomeKit, including generating authentication codes, which would normally be printed on labels for supporting accessories.

Once HomeKit is enabled people should be able to control their lights through the iOS Home app, watchOS, or Siri. Access away from home requires an iPad or Apple TV configured as a hub.

Perhaps more significantly, HomeKit allows devices from multiple manufacturers to work together in rooms and scenes, solving a common problem with home automation. Previously LIFX owners had to use the official app or platforms like IFTTT and Amazon Alexa.

LIFX has promised HomeKit support for some time. The addition may have been made easier by Apple policy changes, above all support for software-based authentication instead of requiring a dedicated hub or chip.

7 Comments

hmurchison 11823 comments · 23 Years

About 7 years ago

Finally!

zroger73 787 comments · 13 Years

Yes! I love my LIFX bulbs. They work well with the app and Echo, but I'm glad to see them HK-compatible now.

Now, it's the Nest thermostat's turn! (I know - that's probably a pipe dream.)

jbdragon 2312 comments · 10 Years

zroger73 said:

Yes! I love my LIFX bulbs. They work well with the app and Echo, but I'm glad to see them HK-compatible now.

Now, it's the Nest thermostat's turn! (I know - that's probably a pipe dream.)

Get the better EcoBee which supports everyone, the new 4 has a built in Echo. Also they work with Homekit, have remote temp sensors, etc. I think they're better all around devices then NEST. Most of my house room rights are in Fan units which are Remote controlled. So light bulbs or light switches just really won't work for me. I do have homekit controlled light switches in my garage. 3 of them that control all my T8 bulbs. That works great. The few locations I could use these things really don't make much sense to do so. I'm all for more and more Homekit controlled devices. My garage door I can control with Siri on my Apple Watch as it's now Homekit controlled. I'm all for NEST getting support, but I just don't see Google doing that. I'm not sure why? After all they have their Apps on the iPhone. My guess is Google doesn't get enough out of it to make it worth their wild. Between these bulbs and the ones from IKEA that I guess also recently got updated to Homekit support. It seems like things are picking up finally.

HM State of the IoT Union 2017 -

I've had an Ecobee 3 Thermostat and a Honeywell Lyric. Both have been solid and easy to install. I'm probably going to get a Nest Thermostat next for a couple of reasons.

Good Looks
Thread/Weave support

I've found that Homekit support for Thermostats isn't really feature that I've used much. What's swayed me over to Next is that I want to get smart Smoke Detector/CO for my next home and the Nest Protect seems best by a mile. I'm looking at cameras as well. My long range goal is wire Cat6 to the perimeter and put of 4K cams with a HEVC NVR. I think we're about 3 years from this being off the bleeding edge and affordable. Until then I may suck it up and go with the new Next IQ Cams and Doorbell.

My next door lock will be a Yale AssureLock SL or Linus depending on what I value more ..HomeKit or Thread/Weave support.

My lights will be Philips Hue for the 4" Downlight and Lifx and Nanoleaf for the color strips and LED Panels. I'm a big Lutron Caseta fan but my next home needs to have tunable light from 2700k to beyond 3000k in the celling. If Lutron had tunable white I'd be there.

May upgrade my mesh router from the current Linksys Velop to an Eero system next year as well.