Homey Just Built the Smart Home Controller Apple Should Have Made — And It’s Finally Coming to the UK
Apple has dominated the smart home conversation for years. HomeKit, HomePod, the Home app — a walled garden that promises elegance but often delivers frustration. If you’re a UK homeowner juggling a mix of Zigbee sensors, Z-Wave switches, Thread devices, and Wi-Fi plugs, you already know the pain: one app per brand, endless bridge hubs, and Siri asking you to repeat yourself at 11pm.
Then Homey announced its latest controller, and it became clear: this is the device Apple should have built. The Homey Smart Portal (developed in partnership with LG) isn’t just another hub. It’s a universal translator for your entire home, and it’s finally available in the UK with proper GBP pricing, UK delivery, and right-hand drive — well, right-hand fitment for British homes.
What Makes the Homey Smart Portal Different From HomeKit?
The core problem with Apple’s approach has always been compatibility. HomeKit requires manufacturers to play by Apple’s rules, and many don’t bother. The Homey Smart Portal flips the script: instead of asking every device to support one protocol, it supports every protocol.
| Feature | Homey Smart Portal | Apple HomeKit Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol support | Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, BLE, Infrared | Thread, Wi-Fi, BLE (limited) |
| Device compatibility | 50,000+ devices across 1,000+ brands | ~2,000 certified accessories |
| Local processing | Yes, fully offline | Yes, but requires Apple TV/HomePod |
| Voice assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri (via HomeKit bridge) | Siri only |
| App platform | Homey Apps Store (third-party flows) | Limited automations |
| UK pricing | From £329 (RRP) | From £149 (Apple TV 4K) |
| Setup complexity | Moderate (one hub, one app) | High (multiple bridges per brand) |
The table above tells the story. Apple’s hub is cheaper, but it’s a gateway into a limited ecosystem. The Homey Smart Portal costs more upfront but eliminates the need for three or four separate bridges sitting behind your TV.
Key takeaway: If you own more than two smart home brands, a universal hub like the Homey Smart Portal will likely save you money and sanity within months — even at a higher initial price.
UK Pricing, Delivery, and What You Get in the Box
Homey has confirmed UK availability with a £329 RRP for the Smart Portal. That includes the hub itself, a power adapter with UK plug, an IR blaster cable, and a quick-start guide. VAT is included in the price, and Homey ships directly to UK addresses with 2–3 working day delivery via tracked courier.
For UK buyers, the key details:
- £329 RRP with VAT included — no surprise duties at checkout
- Right-hand fitment: UK power adapter and IR blaster included in the box
- 2–3 day UK delivery from Homey’s European warehouse
- Free returns within 30 days for UK customers
- 2-year UK warranty (consumer rights compliant)
Compared to the US price of $299 (before tax), the UK price is fair once you account for 20% VAT and shipping. There’s no markup for the British market — a refreshing change from the usual “Apple tax” on US-to-UK conversions.
The LG Partnership: Why Co-Branding Matters
Homey’s collaboration with LG isn’t just a logo swap. LG brings manufacturing scale, display expertise, and a built-in retail presence. The Smart Portal features a 4-inch touchscreen that runs Homey’s software natively, so you can control your home without reaching for your phone.
For UK users, this matters because LG has strong distribution through Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon UK. You can walk into a store, try the interface, and buy it on the spot. Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem doesn’t offer that kind of hands-on retail experience for hubs.
The screen itself is genuinely useful. It shows live camera feeds, weather, energy usage, and automation status at a glance. It’s not a tablet replacement — it’s a control panel, and it does that job well.
UK Smart Home Compatibility: What Works Out of the Box
British homes run on a specific stack of smart devices. Here’s what the Homey Smart Portal handles natively:
- British Gas Hive heating controls (via cloud integration)
- TP-Link Kasa smart plugs (Wi-Fi)
- IKEA TRÅDFRI bulbs (Zigbee)
- Philips Hue (Zigbee, without needing the Hue Bridge)
- Aqara sensors (Zigbee, including the UK-specific M2 hub)
- Ring doorbells (cloud integration)
- Sonos speakers (local network)
- Nest Thermostat (cloud integration, including UK models)
The killer feature: you can pair Philips Hue bulbs directly to the Homey Smart Portal without the Hue Bridge. That’s one less hub on your shelf and one less point of failure. The same applies to IKEA TRÅDFRI and Aqara devices.
Automations That Actually Work (Without a PhD)
Apple’s Home app has improved, but its automation engine is still basic. You can create “if this, then that” rules, but complex conditions require third-party apps like Controller for HomeKit or Eve.
Homey’s Flow editor is a visual automation builder that feels like a consumer-friendly version of Node-RED. You can create multi-step automations with conditions, delays, and actions across different brands.
A practical UK example:
- Trigger: Front door unlocks (Yale smart lock)
- Condition: Time is after 6pm AND before 11pm
- Action: Turn on hallway lights (IKEA) at 70% brightness, set Nest Thermostat to 21°C, play BBC Radio 4 on Sonos in the kitchen
- Wait: 30 minutes
- Action: Dim hallway lights to 30%
That’s a five-step automation in Homey. In Apple Home, you’d need three separate automations and a lot of patience.
Key takeaway: Homey’s Flow editor handles real-world complexity. Apple Home’s automation engine is still playing catch-up.
Matter and Thread Support: Future-Proofing for UK Homes
Matter is the new smart home standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung. The Homey Smart Portal supports Matter over Wi-Fi and Thread, meaning it can control Matter-certified devices natively.
For UK buyers, this matters because Matter devices are finally landing on shelves at John Lewis, Currys, and Argos. The Homey Smart Portal works as a Thread border router, so you don’t need an Apple TV or HomePod mini to use Thread devices.
This is where Apple’s approach falls apart. Apple requires an Apple TV or HomePod to act as a Thread border router. If you’re an Android user in a mixed household, you’re locked out of the ecosystem. Homey doesn’t care what phone you carry — it works with iOS and Android equally well.
Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant: Voice Control Without the Lock-In
Apple’s HomeKit is tied to Siri. If you prefer Alexa or Google Assistant, you’re out of luck. The Homey Smart Portal supports all three voice assistants simultaneously.
For UK households with mixed device ecosystems — an Echo Dot in the kitchen, a Google Nest Hub in the living room, and a HomePod mini in the bedroom — the Homey Smart Portal unifies everything. You can say “Alexa, turn off the living room lights” and it works. You can say “Hey Google, set the thermostat to 20 degrees” and it works. You can say “Hey Siri, lock the front door” and it works.
That flexibility is something Apple will never offer. HomeKit is Siri-only, and that’s a deliberate business decision. Homey’s approach respects the reality that British homes are rarely single-assistant households.
The Verdict: Should UK Buyers Choose Homey Over Apple?
If you’re already deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem with a HomePod mini and a handful of HomeKit-certified accessories, the Homey Smart Portal might feel like overkill. Apple’s solution is simpler for a single-brand household.
But if you’re like most UK smart home owners, you probably have a mix of brands picked up in sales, gifts, or impulse buys. That’s where Homey shines. It’s the controller Apple should have built — open, flexible, and genuinely universal.
The £329 price is justified by the hardware (touchscreen, Thread border router, IR blaster) and the software (Flow automations, 50,000+ device support, no subscription fees). UK delivery is fast, the warranty is solid, and the right-hand fitment means no adapters or workarounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Homey Smart Portal available in the UK?
Yes. Homey ships directly to UK addresses with 2–3 working day delivery. The £329 RRP includes VAT, and the box contains a UK power adapter. It’s also available through LG’s UK retail partners.
Does the Homey Smart Portal work with Apple HomeKit?
The Homey Smart Portal supports Matter, which means it can bridge into Apple Home for basic controls. You can also use the Homey app on iOS to manage everything. Siri voice control works via the HomeKit bridge, but you’ll get the best experience using Homey’s own app or Flow automations.
Can I use the Homey Smart Portal without a subscription?
Yes. Homey’s core functionality — device pairing, automations, and local control — works without any subscription. Some cloud integrations (like Ring or Nest) require a free Homey account, but there’s no monthly fee for basic use.
Does the Homey Smart Portal replace my Philips Hue Bridge?
Yes, for most users. The Homey Smart Portal connects directly to Philips Hue bulbs and accessories over Zigbee, eliminating the need for the Hue Bridge. Advanced Hue features like Entertainment mode (sync with TV) still require the Hue Bridge, but standard controls and automations work natively.
What happens to my devices if I switch from Apple Home to Homey?
Your devices remain paired to their native ecosystems. The Homey Smart Portal doesn’t “take over” your existing setup — it adds a unified layer on top. You can keep your HomeKit automations running and add Homey-based automations alongside them. There’s no risk of bricking your existing setup.
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