Apple's New AI Features for HomeKit Cameras Come with High Monthly Costs
With the release of iOS 27 and tvOS 27, Apple has introduced new Apple Intelligence features to its HomeKit Secure Video service. These include AI-powered video summaries that provide text descriptions of camera footage, a search feature, and multi-camera clip stitching. However, these enhancements come with steep pricing tiers: $9.99 per month for one camera (with 2TB iCloud Plus), up to $59.99 monthly for five cameras under the 12TB plan. The cost increase has been criticized as excessive compared to similar services like Amazon Ring and Google Nest, which offer comparable AI features at around $20 a month per tier. While Apple's HomeKit Secure Video service already required subscriptions starting from $1/month, the new pricing for Apple Intelligence is seen as significantly higher than justified by its benefits. Despite these costs, improvements in speed, reliability, and support for 4K video resolution have been added to the service.
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Topics: Apple Intelligence HomeKit Secure Video iCloud storage pricing iOS updates