Apple says iPads will maintain working as dwelling hubs in iOS 16, however there’s a catch

Text found in iOS 16 beta code indicated that Apple plans to drop iPad dwelling hub assist within the new replace, but it surely seems that’s not fairly the complete story. According to the corporate, the iPad isn’t dropping assist for what it could possibly already do, but it surely gained’t get an essential improve that shall be accessible later.

“iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 will continue to support iPad as a home hub with no loss in functionality,” Apple spokesperson Catherine Franklin mentioned in a press release to The Verge. While that appears promising on its face, there’s a large asterisk. Apple is planning to introduce a brand new structure to the brand new Home app in iOS 16, and the iPad gained’t be supported as a house hub with that structure.

Here’s Franklin’s full assertion: “Alongside these releases, the Home app will introduce a new architecture for an even more efficient and reliable experience. Because iPad will not be supported as a home hub with the new architecture, users who rely on iPad for that purpose do not need to update the Home architecture and can continue enjoying all existing features.”

Apple has been imprecise about precisely what the structure improve consists of. During the WWDC 2022 keynote, Apple’s Corey Wang said this: “We reimagined [the new Home app] from the ground up starting with the underlying architecture so it’s more efficient and reliable, especially for homes with many accessories.” And you’ll nonetheless be capable of use the brand new Home app on an iPad with out upgrading to that new structure. The improve shall be accessible within the Home app’s settings in a later iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 replace, based on Franklin.

We don’t but know precisely how your expertise may differ on the outdated structure. But we do know that iPads gained’t be capable of use equipment that make the most of the brand new sensible dwelling customary Matter: in a footnote on the iOS 16 preview page, Apple notes that “Matter accessories require an Apple TV or HomePod running as a home hub.” Perhaps that Matter assist is the important thing distinction.

Apple says the Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K, HomePod, and HomePod Mini will nonetheless be supported as dwelling hubs with the brand new structure. So, in the event you’re at present utilizing your iPad as a house hub and need to make the most of the brand new structure, you’re going to need to decide up a type of different units.