If I had to build a complete smart home from scratch in 2026, this is every product I’d buy – from the Apple TV 4K hub to Aqara locks, UniFi networking, and Lutron Caséta lighting. I break down the Aqara U400, W200 thermostat, and G400 doorbell trio, why the UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber beats Eero for scalable Wi-Fi, and a lesser-known Lutron dimmable lamp plug worth adding to any room. Whether you’re moving into a new house or upgrading piece by piece, this HomeKit-focused setup – with HomePods, Sonos, and UniFi Protect cameras – shows why systems that scale beat chasing universal Matter compatibility.
🎞️ *Watch More*
Aqara W200
Aqara G400
Nuki Keypad
My dream Ubiquiti rack setup
🛍️ *Go Shopping*
My Ubiquiti picks
My favorite smart home tech at Best Buy
💌 *Sunday Scene Newsletter*
It’s just 3 Apple or smart home things worth your attention.
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🧵 *Threads*
*Chapters*
00:00 Intro
00:44 Systems That Scale
01:30 Aqara Trio: U400, W200 & G400
02:20 For Renters: Nuki Deadbolt
02:52 Wi-Fi & Networking: Eero
03:30 UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber
04:21 Casual Cameras: Aqara G100
05:00 Advanced Cameras: UniFi Protect
05:38 Smart Lighting: Lutron Caséta
06:22 Lutron Lamp Dimmer Plug
06:48 The Hub: Apple TV 4K
07:58 Audio: HomePod & Sonos
💼 *Details*
– Some links in this description are affiliate links and might support the channel at no additional cost to you
– This video and all of Eric Welander’s channel is a production of E. Welander, LLC
Imagine how much better the smart home could be if manufacturers were more interested in delivering great products than forcing you to use an app, pay a subscription, and harvesting data unrelated to their product so they can sell your private information.
If I had to start all over again, I still would use Apple HomeKit. If my Internet connection goes down, at least my smart home devices can still communicate locally over the network.
I really loved this video. It is very informative. There will always be personal preferences when choosing smart home devices. There will always be people that prefer one brand over another. I truly loved the attention that you gave to Smart Home Systems that Scale. This is a most important thing to consider when one makes the decision to make their home “smarter”.
Really informative video! We are moving into our new home in a few months and I am planning out my smart home. My current plans were:
1. Aqara for door locks and potentially doorbell
2. Reolink for cameras and alternative to Aqara for doorbell
3. Ubiquiti for networking (replacing our current Eero mesh)
4. Apple TV to replace Fire TV setup
A question on your comments about Apple TV as home hub vs Home Assistant Green – would I not still need the GA green for managing the smart home setup?
Why do I even need a bunch of cameras everywhere?