With the upcoming update to iOS 17.6, Apple will further expand its commitment to smart home technologies. This update brings a variety of new features and improvements based on the open smart home standard Matter. Below, you'll learn everything you need to know about the new features in iOS 17.6 and how they can improve your smart home experience.
Apple has invested heavily in the area of smart home technologies in recent years. By supporting the Matter standard, the company has taken a big step towards interoperability and user-friendliness. The upcoming update to iOS 17.6 shows that Apple continues to strive to make the use of smart home devices even more convenient and efficient.
Support for new smart home devices
iOS 17.6 adds support for several new smart home devices. This information comes from Matter’s publicly available code repository (via AppleInsider). The code shows that Apple plans to introduce support for these new devices in iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, as well as macOS 14.6, watchOS 10.6, and tvOS 17.6 in mid-2024.
New features and improvements
Improved air quality monitoring
One of the most notable new features is enhanced air quality monitoring. The new version of Matter (1.3) includes support for sensors that can measure CO, CO2, formaldehyde, PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and radon. These additional sensors will allow you to monitor the air quality in your home even more closely and take appropriate measures to ensure a healthy indoor environment.
energy management
Another significant new feature is improved energy management. With iOS 17.6, you will be able to more efficiently manage the energy consumption of your smart home devices. This is particularly useful for reducing energy costs and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.
water valves
Support for water valves is also being expanded, allowing for more precise control and monitoring of water sources in your home. For example, you can automatically turn off water when a leak is detected, which can prevent potentially costly water damage.
robot vacuum cleaner
Interestingly, there are also indications that iOS 17.6 will further expand support for robot vacuum cleaners, which were part of the Matter 1.2 update. This could allow for more seamless integration and control of these devices through your Apple device.
release and beta phase
The first betas of iOS 17.6 are expected to be released before WWDC 2024 on June 10. This will give developers and beta testers a chance to test the new features and provide feedback before the official update is released in mid-2024.
iOS 17.6: Your home becomes even smarter and more efficient
The update to iOS 17.6 brings at least one exciting new feature and improvement for smart home devices. With expanded support for air quality sensors, energy management and water valves, your home will be even smarter and more efficient. The upcoming beta phase offers a preview of this innovation, and it will be exciting to see how these new features will prove themselves in everyday life. Keep an eye out for further announcements from Apple to stay up to date. (Photo by Unsplash+ / Getty Images)
