Key Takeaways
- Apple Intelligence for HomeKit cameras now costs up to $60 a month.
- Features include AI-powered video summaries and enhanced video search capabilities.
- Subscribers must opt for the 2TB iCloud Plus plan to access these new features.
Apple has introduced new AI-powered security features for its HomeKit cameras, but these come at a higher cost. The new features, known as Apple Intelligence, are now available for HomeKit Secure Video, allowing users to receive short text descriptions of who and what their compatible security cameras have recorded, along with the actual clips.
To access these enhanced functionalities, users will need to subscribe to the 2TB iCloud Plus plan, which starts at $9.99 a month and can go up to $60 a month, depending on the number of devices and features required.
The new features include AI-powered video summaries, which provide quick text descriptions of events captured by the cameras. Additionally, users can now search through their video footage more efficiently, and stitch footage from multiple cameras into a single clip, making it easier to monitor their home without having to scroll through extensive footage.
Apple has also introduced a new video search feature, allowing users to quickly find specific moments in their recorded footage. This feature, combined with the ability to stitch footage from multiple cameras, makes it easier to keep an eye on their home security.
While the new features are designed to enhance user experience, they come at a higher cost. The 2TB iCloud Plus plan, which is necessary for accessing these features, starts at $9.99 a month and can increase to $60 a month, depending on the number of devices and features required.
Apple has not provided specific details on the exact cost breakdown for the different tiers of the iCloud Plus plan, leaving users to decide whether the enhanced features justify the higher subscription costs.
The new features are available with the public release of iOS 27 and tvOS 27, making them accessible to a wider range of Apple devices. However, users will need to ensure their devices are updated to these latest operating systems to take full advantage of the new features.
For those who are already using HomeKit Secure Video, the new features could provide a significant upgrade in terms of convenience and security. However, the higher subscription costs may be a deterrent for some users who are already satisfied with their current setup.
