Apple says iPads will continue to act as home hubs in iPadOS 16, but there’s a problem

The text detected in the iOS 16 beta code indicates that Apple is planning this Drop iPad home hub support In the new update, but it turns out that’s not quite the whole story. According to the company, the iPad isn’t losing support for what it can already do, but it won’t get a significant upgrade that will be available later.

“iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 will continue to support the iPad as a home hub without any loss of functionality,” Apple spokeswoman Katherine Franklin said in a statement. the edge. While this looks promising on his face, there is a big star sign. Apple plans to introduce a new architecture to The new Home app in iPadOS 16and iPad wont Being supported as a home hub by this architecture.

Here’s Franklin’s full statement: “Alongside these releases, the Home app will introduce a new architecture for a more efficient and reliable experience. Since the iPad will no longer be supported as a home hub with a new chassis, users who rely on the iPad for this purpose will not need to update the home architecture and can continue to enjoy all the existing features.

Apple has been vague about what exactly the build upgrade consists of. During the keynote speech at WWDC 2022, Corey Wang from Apple He said this: “We have reimagined [the new Home app] From the ground up starting with an infrastructure that is more efficient and reliable, especially for homes with many accessories.” You’ll still be able to use the new Home app on your iPad without upgrading to this new build. The upgrade will be available in the Home app settings in an update A later version of iPadOS 16, according to Franklin.

We don’t yet know exactly how your experience of ancient architecture might differ. but we an act You know that iPads won’t be able to use the accessories you take advantage of The new smart home standard is important: in a footnote to the file iPadOS 16 Preview page, Apple notes that “Important accessories require your Apple TV or HomePod to function as a home hub.” This important support is perhaps the main difference.

Apple says the Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K, HomePod, and HomePod Mini will continue to be supported as home hubs with the new design. So, if you’re currently using an iPad as a home hub and want to take advantage of the new build, you’ll need to choose one of these other devices.

Update June 28, 4:49PM ETFlags have changed from iOS 16 to iPadOS 16 all the time.