Verdict
In price of bare-assed power , there ’s no home automation organisation that can touch the Homey Pro . Unlike its little brother , the Homey Bridge , there are no monthly fees here . If you have a appeal of Zigbee and Z - Wave twist alongside ‘ bigger ’ manufacturers , this could be for you . However , machine backup overall is n’t as good as with the principal rivals , and Matter support is still in the beta stage .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Only month after the launch of theHomey Bridge , the companionship is back with yet another hub , the Homey Pro , itself an update to an older bridge deck . A more powerful devicewith no need for a subscription , Homey Pro is a credible challenger to thebig boys of home automation , Amazon , Google , Apple and Samsung .
In its party favor , the system is extremely brawny and superbly flexible . However , mathematical product support is still a little limited , which may mean it ’s not quite correct for you .
Design and installation
With the Homey Bridge , as soon as you lead over the five - equipment limit , there was a subscription fee . That ’s because equipment insure all runs in the swarm ; here , the Homey Pro is a far more knock-down equipment , lean everything natively , which means no subscription fee .
There ’s a far higher terms ( the Pro cost £ 399 , and the Bridge costs £ 69 ) , but cistron in the monthly fees you have to pay for the Bridge and the Pro is better economic value in the long run .
Externally , there ’s not much between the Bridge and the Pro . Both are circular hubs with multi - colour light rings that run around the base . As nerveless as this wait , the light ring can be turned off in software , which I did immediately to avoid having a colorful beguilement .
strong-arm hardware keep is similar , with the Pro also plunk for Z - Wave , Zigbee , Bluetooth and Wi - Fi equipment . Mattersupport is available , but currently , this runs over Ethernet only ; an update is coming by and by in the class to turn on Thread backup . This will put the Homey Pro on equation with theSamsung SmartThings Hub .
I should also mention that the Homey Bridge can be used as an extender for the Homey Pro , giving broad coverage for smart machine throughout your home .
Installation is quick . First , the homely app configures your home layout , including create story and room ( known as zones ) and snitch up the Pro . Although Wi - Fi is built - in , there ’s also an optional Ethernet adapter that connects to the USB - C office larboard . Ethernet has its advantage in terms of constancy and upper , so could be the unspoilt alternative for serious fresh home users .
Device support
Given that the Homey Bridge and Homey Pro have exchangeable inner radios and protocol documentation , you ’re credibly wondering where the difference of opinion lie in . Well , the main difference is that the Pro runs all of its apps locally , rather than in the cloud .
That mean that as well as the officially suffer apps , there ’s also a all-embracing range of third - party Community Apps that dilate hardware living . That ’s great in hypothesis , but the suffer range of gadget is rather hit - and - overlook , and apps do n’t always do what I ’d expect .
Take the Ring Security app , which I thought would let me summate myRing Alarminto Homey , using it as a trigger in routines . That ’s not the case ; rather , this app would let me add the single Z - waving components from the Ring Alarm ( motion sensing element , keypad , etc ) directly to Homey . That ’s potentially ready to hand if you have spares lying around , but it ’s not quite what I was expecting .
With the Govee integration , I was go for to add my gaming light strip , but this was n’t supported , and no devices were recover .
More reliable are the stock consolidation , which get along in two signifier . First , there are the unmediated - connected devices , which include Matter ( presently in Beta ) . Matter over Ethernet is supported now , with Thread support coming later , although Thread equipment can be tot if you have an alternative system with a Thread Border Router . Zigbee and Z - Wave twist can also be connect straight .
Matter bread and butter was n’t so telling . I tried to add my Philips Hue Bridge to Homey , but the app timed out and refused to connect . Instead , I had to apply the standard integration . Likewise , I tried to pair aSwitchBot Hub 2 , which was connected to HomeKit using Matter , but it refused to pair . Hopefully , a full Matter release for Homey will fix these subject .
Between Zigbee and Z - Wave , there ’s a wide range of well - priced sensors uncommitted . For good example , an Aqara motion sensor can be purchase cheaply , giving a simple detector to use for set off routines .
IR gimmick are supported , but the Homey Pro has to be within line - of - plenty of a equipment , and it ca n’t learn a remote , it only works with pre - programme equipment , such as the Apple TV .
There ’s then livelihood for devices via cloud connections and the Official Apps . Here , documentation is pretty expert : I could sum up my smart lock ( Yale LinusandUltion Nuki ) , mySomfy Motorised Blinds , Hue Lights and Sonos histrion .
keep is n’t always perfect . total my Dyson account , I found that my fan - only smart devices appeared , but not myPurifier Hot+Cool , as that ’s not currently plump for .
As with any other smart home organisation , equipment support is all important , and Homey still lags behind the main competition for now . Before you buy , check up on that your devices are supported .
Features and Flows
Devices tot up to the app can be controlled now from there , give way a single place to hold in and manage all of your devices . Control is fairly knock-down and changes depending on the gimmick : I could set up my Hue visible radiation to one colour or shift the fan speeding on a Dyson purifier , for object lesson .
I like the direction that Homey is organised , too . ape the layout of your home base makes a set of mother wit , screen out gadget by flooring and then by room . That give more herculean control with routines , which are scream Flows here . For instance , a Flow can be used to turn off an entire floor in one go with one command ; compared to rival systems , where each twist you want to turn off has to be take , Homey can make the complex simple .
It is frustrating that newly added gimmick appear in the base level of your plate , and then each equipment has to be opened and act into a room . That ’s alright if you add a few devices ; when adding 40 + Hue lights , moving each into its own room is a laborious subprogram .
Once machine are aggroup , Homey automatically creates a grouped ascendancy for lights , so you could sprain one elbow room on or off with a unmarried switch rather than get to control private devices .
For mechanisation , Flows are uncomplicated to build . For example , I have my Somfy blinds open automatically when my Ultion Nuki unlocks , and the subterfuge shut when I lock in the doorway in my office .
It ’s the ‘ And ’ part of flow that add power . This makes for far more complex stream . For good example , with a Fiabaro motion sensing element , I can turn my Hue lights on only when motion is notice ; the luminousness level is below a put level ; and it ’s between sunrise and sunset . That order , turn the light on if I ’m around and it of a sudden gets dark during the day .
This can be done from the app , but the entanglement interface has a graphical Flow builder , which allows you to go bonkers and put together extremely complicated flow , with multiple triggers , multiple conditions and multiple actions .
SmartThings is the only major scheme that offers this floor of sustenance . SmartThings does go one tone further with an undo alternative . For example , if SmartThings turns on a light when motion is detected , it can turn it off again after a arrange stop , all within one Routine . With Homey , and its other master rivals , multiple Flows are needed : one to perform an action and another to undo it .
Using third - company controllers , such as the Tradfri Remote , Homey does have a on-off switch option . That ’s useful , as a single military action ( a clitoris wardrobe , in this event ) can be used to turn lights or a fan on or off . With HomeKit , there ’s no toggle , so to do the same thing , you ’d have to assign a exclusive press to work lights on and a long press to turn Inner Light off .
All of these options are available with standard Homey , but the HomeyPro also add HomeyScript : a complete JavaScript scripting language that allows for more complex mechanization . It ’s standardised in scope to webCore , which used to be available for SmartThings but is no longer supported .
It takes a little learning , but if you ’ve ever struggled to form out how to automatise something elaborate , HomeyScript can probably do it .
HomeyScript can also use Logic and Variables , which are usable in regular Flows , too . For example , Logic can take reading , such as the current temperature from a Dyson fan , while Variables can withstand usage value . Your average someone probably wo n’t need them , but Homey is about the enthusiast , and these extra add together more complicated way of monitoring and controlling a smart habitation .
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Should you buy it?
campaign everything on the Homey Pro , you get privacy and powerful control over devices , take in this a nifty option for enthusiasts .
Support ’s good , but there are still gaps in what ’s corroborate , which may signify that this is n’t the system for you .
Final Thoughts
A powerful , flexible and next - proof hub , Homey Pro delivers the kind of automation and tractableness that other system ca n’t while preserve the enthusiast edge that SmartThings has ditch . Zigbee , Z - Wave and Bluetooth control condition give you the choice to add tonnes of third - political party devices into the arrangement for flexible dominance .
With very powerful flow and the optional HomeyScript , the Homey Pro has the most brawny automations of any system .
biotic community Apps lucubrate the range of supported devices , although the range of devices is still smaller than its main contender . That , at long last , is the limiting agent : if Homey does n’t support your devices , it ’s in all likelihood not much use ; if it does , and you do n’t want the heavy companies make admittance to your home , it ’s a truly superb system .
Trusted Score
How we test
Unlike other sites , we try out every smart domicile product we retrospect exhaustively over an elongated geological period of time . We apply diligence standard tests to equate features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to critique a product .
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FAQs
No , all automation runs on the hardware , so there are no fees .
Yes , although support is in beta at the moment , and only Matter over Wi - Fi is plunk for , Thread support is come in the future .
