As part of its WWDC26 announcements for iOS 27, Apple revealed a number of Apple Home updates that focus mainly on cameras and Apple Intelligence. Although the smart home platform did not receive a major redesign, the changes introduced are one of the most significant improvements to the HomeKit Secure video since its launch.
HOMEKIT SECURE VIDEO GOES 4K
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Perhaps the biggest announcement for Apple Home users is that HomeKit Secure Video now supports recording and viewing videos up to 4K resolution on compatible cameras.
Since HomeKit Secure Video was first introduced in 2019, recording is limited to 1080p, regardless of camera configuration. This has been a longstanding complaint among users, especially since an increasing number of HomeKit-compatible cameras support 2K and 4K video.
With iOS 27, Apple is finally removing this limitation, allowing compatible cameras to use their high-resolution sensors when used with HomeKit Secure Video.
APPLE INTELLIGENCE COMES TO HOME CAMERA
Apple is also bringing Apple Intelligence to HomeKit Secure Video, with the goal of making it easier to find and understand recorded events. Another very useful addition is Apple Intelligence’s ability to automatically generate camera descriptions. Rather than just getting a standard motion notification, users will be presented with a summary of what happened in the clip. This should make it easier to determine if an event is important without having to manually open and review the recording. What is also noteworthy is that Apple Intelligence in relation to HSV is performed both on the device (such as on your iPhone or iPad) and in the cloud, depending on the task.
SEARCHING FOR NATURAL LANGUAGE CAMERA FOOTAGE
Apple is also introducing natural language search for HomeKit Secure video recordings. Instead of scrolling through a timeline and list of events, users will be able to search for specific events using everyday language. For example, users can search for a package delivery, a guest arriving at the front door, or a specific activity captured by a camera. This feature appears to build on Apple Intelligence’s broader strategy of allowing users to interact with their content in a conversational manner.
CERTAIN EVENTS ARE AUTOMATICALLY RESPECTED
The Home app will also get a new system for displaying important events. Important clips identified by Apple Intelligence will appear prominently within the Home app, helping users quickly find important work without the need to review every recorded event individually.
Although Apple hasn’t specified exactly how notable events will be determined, the feature appears to be designed to reduce the amount of time users spend searching through camera recordings.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES
The notifications generated by many Home accessories will also be very smart. Rather than generating a series of separate notifications, related notifications can now be organized into a single live activity, providing a clear view of what’s happening at home.
In homes with multiple cameras, sensors, and security devices, this should result in less notification congestion.
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR CAMERA USERS
Although Apple Home wasn’t the main focus during the WWDC26 keynote, the camera-related improvements announced for iOS 27 represent one of the biggest updates to HomeKit Secure Video in years.
The addition of 4K recording support addresses one of the most frequently requested features of HomeKit Secure Video, while Apple Intelligence introduces new ways to search, review, and understand camera images.
However, despite the emphasis on cameras, Apple did not make an announcement about support for the Matter camera in Apple Home. Cameras remain one of the most notable device categories still missing from the Matter ecosystem as supported by Apple, despite the continued development of camera support within the Matter platform itself. As a result, users will still need cameras that specifically support Apple Home and HomeKit Secure Video to use these new features.
For those of us invested in Apple’s smart home ecosystem, these changes could be some of the most effective and useful additions arriving with iOS 27 later this year. At the same time, the absence of any notable mention of Matter cameras suggests that Apple is not yet ready to expand camera support beyond its HomeKit Secure video framework.