DiscoverHands-On Tech (Video)HOT 198: Connecting An iPad to an Android Smart Home - A Unified Smart Home Experience
HOT 198: Connecting An iPad to an Android Smart Home - A Unified Smart Home Experience

HOT 198: Connecting An iPad to an Android Smart Home - A Unified Smart Home Experience

Update: 2025-01-12
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In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a unique smart home dilemma from a viewer named John, who runs his home automation through Android while his wife uses Apple devices. John wants to know if he can use an old iPad as a home hub to give his wife easier access to their home's smart features, like thermostats, greenhouse controls, and outlets, without having to go through his phone.


  • Android-first setup is actually advantageous, as it means devices are already configured independently rather than being locked into Apple's HomeKit ecosystem

  • For HomeKit-compatible devices, adding them to the wife's iPhone/iPad is as simple as scanning the HomeKit codes in Apple's Home app

Some suggested approaches for the iPad hub:


  • Use as a portable control panel that can move between rooms

  • Mount it permanently as a dedicated control center using a device such as elago's Home Hub Mount, which allows for clean cable management.

  • Mikah recommends using Home Assistant (home-assistant.io) as a powerful third-party solution that works with more devices than just HomeKit or Google Home, has robust automation capabilities, and has apps for multiple platforms, making it accessible to both users.

  • Mikah also emphasizes the importance of "smart," which means proactive automation, giving examples like automatic fan control based on humidity sensor readings, proximity-based lighting control, and custom scenes triggered by pressure sensors.

Host: Mikah Sargent


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HOT 198: Connecting An iPad to an Android Smart Home - A Unified Smart Home Experience

HOT 198: Connecting An iPad to an Android Smart Home - A Unified Smart Home Experience

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