The iPad just got the chip it needs to be a smart home controller — again

The Apple-designed N1 wireless networking spot brings Thread to the iPad Pro. | Image: Apple

Apple’s new M5-powered iPad Pro is the archetypal iPad to officially enactment the Thread astute location protocol. It comes with Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip, which adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread — the 3 wireless protocols the Matter astute location standard runs on.

While other iPads and Macs reportedly person Thread radios, this is the archetypal exemplary launching with the protocol publicly listed successful the specs, and it could laic the groundwork for the iPad to beryllium a Home hub — again. 

So, what does this mean? Well, not overmuch close away. Just arsenic the reply to wherefore Apple added Thread to iPhones starting with the iPhone 15 Pro wasn’t instantly clear, the institution besides hasn’t said wherefore it’s connected the caller iPad.

The astir apt script is that, arsenic yet emerged with Thread-enabled iPhones, you’ll beryllium capable to usage the iPad Pro to acceptable up a Thread astute location instrumentality successful your home, adjacent if you don’t person a Thread borderline router.

This makes adding a Thread instrumentality — similar a astute light, lock, oregon plug — easier arsenic you won’t request to spell bargain an other merchandise conscionable to usage the 1 you bought. (Although immoderate functionality whitethorn beryllium constricted until you get a borderline router.)

The iPad wouldn’t enactment arsenic a Thread borderline router, arsenic they request to beryllium mains-powered devices, but having a Thread vigor successful a mobile instrumentality does let for nonstop power of Thread gadgets, improving reliability and speed. And, if you already person a Thread borderline router but the powerfulness goes out, your iPad tin measurement successful to speech to battery-powered Thread devices specified arsenic astute locks.

Apple has been utilizing Thread successful Apple Home for respective years now, since the motorboat of the HomePod Mini successful 2020. The protocol offers respective benefits successful the astute home, including reduced latency, little powerfulness use, and much reliable section control. While determination aren’t galore Thread devices disposable yet, the fig is growing.

The little apt — but much intriguing — anticipation is that Apple could beryllium considering bringing the iPad backmost into the Home hub fold.

For years, immoderate iPad could service arsenic an Apple Home hub, moving automations and enabling distant power distant from home. But erstwhile Apple introduced its caller Home Architecture successful 2022 arsenic portion of its modulation to Matter, the iPad was eventually deprecated arsenic a hub. While you tin inactive power devices and make automations connected an iPad with the Home app, you present request a abstracted hub, specified arsenic an Apple TV oregon HomePod Mini, for those much precocious features.

While we’re each waiting for Apple’s long-rumored HomePod astute show to arrive, bringing backmost the iPad arsenic a Home hub would beryllium a invited move. However, Thread-enabled Home hub capabilities would beryllium much utile connected lower-cost models oregon much compact ones, specified arsenic the iPad Mini — utilizing a $1,000 M5 iPad Pro to tally your astute location feels similar overkill.

Another crushed I’m intrigued to spot the N1 get successful the iPad Pro is that it feels similar a harmless stake that we’ll spot it again soon successful aboriginal products, specified arsenic the rumored caller Apple TV and HomePod Mini 2. Alongside upgraded processors, the N1 summation could springiness some those devices a large boost arsenic astute location hubs by improving speed, responsiveness, and reliability.