New camera AI features for HomeKit: It's going to be expensive
With iOS 27, Apple is improving HomeKit Secure Video – with more resolution and AI detection features. It has now become known what this will cost.
Eve camera for HomeKit.
(Image: Eve)
Apple's proprietary video recording service for HomeKit and iCloud, HomeKit Secure Video, has struggled with several shortcomings so far. While it is end-to-end encrypted, modern features like 4K camera support or smarter AI have been missing until now. With iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27 and the new software for HomePod and HomePod mini delivered concurrently, this is set to change starting in the fall. However, Apple had already announced that the new features will not be free. It has now emerged from the latest developer beta of macOS 27 what the company means by this.
Useful AI Features for 120 Euros per Year
The performance of HomeKit Secure Video already depends on which iCloud+ plan you use – as only then is the function active. The inexpensive plan with 50 GB (99 cents per month) only allows the use of one camera, the 200 GB variant (2.99 Euros) allows five cameras, and only the iCloud+ plan with 2 TB (9.99 Euros) and higher allows an unlimited number of HomeKit Secure Video cameras. As it turns out, only the latter subscription price will offer the new Apple Intelligence features for the service.
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Only then will it be possible to receive written summaries for scenes recognized in the image. Grouping images from multiple cameras, which will be possible in the future, is also only allowed with the expensive iCloud+ plan. The same applies to searching video material using natural language and automatic AI recognition of important scenes. Users of the cheaper iCloud+ plans can only use the existing recognition mechanisms, which currently include package deliveries, people, vehicles, or animals.
The Question of 4K Support
It remained unclear at first whether 4K support for HomeKit Secure Video would also be limited to iCloud+ subscribers with the 10-Euro subscription. Users had hoped for this feature for a long time. Apple has not yet provided any information on which cameras will support this.
Many HomeKit Secure Video-enabled devices, such as several models from Aqara or Eufy, have long supported 4K but switch down to 1080p for the Apple service. It is possible that these can be updated with a firmware upgrade – in the worst case, new cameras certified for HomeKit Secure Video with 4K will be needed.
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