APPLE HOME ADDS ROBOT VACUUM SUPPORT WITH MATTER AND IOS 18.4

Apple has updated its Home app to include support for robot vacuums, integrating them into its smart home ecosystem via the Matter standard and iOS 18.4 software update.

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The company rolled out this feature in San Francisco, allowing iPhone users to manage compatible robot vacuums through the app and Siri voice commands. For homeowners, developers, and smart home users, this update expands Apple Home's functionality, offering a unified control point for automated cleaning devices.

The iOS 18.4 release enables Matter-compatible robot vacuums from brands like Roborock, Ecovacs, and iRobot to join the Home app, alongside existing devices such as lights and thermostats.

The firm leverages Matter, an industry-wide smart home protocol, to connect these vacuums seamlessly, marking a step forward in its competition with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This integration responds to long-standing user requests for broader smart home support.

Apple delayed robot vacuum compatibility from its initial iOS 18 plans, delivering it with iOS 18.4 after refining the Matter standard's implementation.

Users now control basic functions—start, stop, dock—directly from their iPhones, reducing reliance on separate manufacturer apps. The update reflects a practical effort to unify smart home management within Apple's ecosystem.

MATTER PROTOCOL DRIVES VACUUM COMPATIBILITY

Apple Home's robot vacuum support relies on Matter, a smart home standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which counts Apple among its contributors. The Matter 1.4 version introduced compatibility for robot vacuums, enabling direct integration with the Home app without additional hardware bridges. This allows users to issue Siri commands like “vacuum the living room” from iPhones, iPads, or HomePods.