In its statement at the iPhone 15 event, Apple announced that iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will support the open source smart home protocol Thread. This support will not be available in the basic models of the series. It is unclear how Thread support will change smart homes, but it seems that Apple is not yet sure what this feature will do.Thread support for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Thread is a mesh network protocol designed especially for low-power, low-bandwidth smart home devices. It aims to reduce latency, help extend battery life, and improve the reliability of connected devices.
One of the possible uses of Thread on the iPhone is that it can be used as a Thread border router. Thread devices need a Thread border router to connect to the internet and other IP-based networks, allowing you to control them from outside the home and connect to non-Thread devices. It can also help enable cross-device connectivity in Apple Home.
However, using a smartphone as a border router does not seem to be best practice. Thread border routers should be always-on devices, according to The Thread Group. Moreover, most of the existing Thread border routers consist of smart speakers or Wi-Fi routers. However, since more than one Thread border router can be used, the smart home system can continue to operate normally even if the phone is disconnected from the network.
Apple has been a strong supporter of Thread since 2018, when it joined The Thread Group. The company launched its first Thread-enabled product, the HomePod Mini, in 2020, then added support for Apple TV 4K (second and third generation) and released the second-generation HomePod earlier this year. Next up are iPads.However, Thread is a core protocol provided by Matter, the new smart home standard that Apple helped establish. Matter provides a common language for connected devices to communicate locally in your home without needing a cloud connection. Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung are behind Matter. However, we have not yet seen a Thread-supported phone from Samsung or Google. This situation seems to change with Pixel 8s.
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