Text found in iOS 16 beta code indicated that Apple plans to drop iPad dwelling hub help within the new replace, nevertheless it seems that’s not fairly the total story. According to the corporate, the iPad isn’t shedding help for what it may well already do, nevertheless it gained’t get an necessary 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 stated in an announcement to The Verge. While that appears promising on its face, there’s a massive asterisk. Apple is planning to introduce a brand new structure to the brand new Home app in iPadOS 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 obscure 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 to 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 iPadOS 16 replace, in response to 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We don’t but know precisely how your expertise may differ on the outdated structure.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 to use equipment that benefit from the brand new sensible dwelling customary Matter: in a footnote on the iPadOS 16 preview web page, Apple notes that “Matter accessories require an Apple TV or HomePod running as a home hub.” Perhaps that Matter help 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, when you’re at the moment utilizing your iPad as a house hub and wish to benefit from the brand new structure, you’re going to wish to choose up a type of different units.

Update June twenty eighth, 4:49PM ET: Changed mentions of iOS 16 to iPadOS 16 all through.