Apple has quietly postponed another iOS 18 feature. Initially announced for iOS 18, the support for robot vacuums in HomeKit has been delayed. MacRumors noticed an update on Apple’s HomeKit website, revealing that the feature will now be available in early 2025 instead of by the end of 2024 as previously expected.
This delay means that if you were hoping to use Siri to control your robot vacuum, you’ll have to wait a few more months. Apple had initially hoped to integrate robot vacuum functionality into the iOS 18.2 update this month.
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The upcoming support will include core functions like power control, cleaning modes, vacuuming, mopping, and charge status, with robot vacuums being usable in automations, scenes, and via Siri. It’s likely that this feature will tie into Apple’s support for Matter, particularly with the Matter 1.2 update, which includes robot vacuum compatibility.
This delay follows the postponement of several Apple Intelligence features announced at WWDC earlier this year. Apple Intelligence is a personalized system that leverages generative models and your unique context to assist with work, communication, and self-expression. It is available on iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as any iPad with an A17 Pro or M1 chip and newer, and Macs with an M1 chip or later.
Apple Intelligence drives new Writing Tools that assist you in finding the perfect words across various writing platforms. With advanced language features, you can quickly summarize an entire lecture, condense lengthy group threads, and reduce distractions by prioritizing important notifications.
While iOS 18.1 launched in October with a redesigned Siri, more Apple Intelligence features will be introduced with iOS 18.2 this month, with major upgrades for Siri coming in the near future.
