Apple and GE currently mislead customers about support for HomeKit on GE Smart Air Conditioners.
Apple offers a framework, HomeKit, that enables other companies to create products and have those products work with Apple’s Home app. The benefit to customers is one app, from Apple, that allows for centralized monitoring and control. It appears GE no longer makes air conditioners with HomeKit, but both the Apple and GE websites continue to declare the feature is supported. This is negligent from both Apple and GE and I have been unable to have my own experience with this resolved.
Apple maintains a website of the categories and products that support HomeKit. https://www.apple.com/ios/home/accessories/
When one company has multiple products in a category, each is listed separately on its own line, for example in the Cameras category:
Arlo Baby 1080p HD Monitoring Camera
Arlo Pro 2 Wire-Free HD Security Camera
Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera
Arlo Pro 3 Wire-Free 2K Security Camera
Arlo Pro Wire-Free HD Security Camera
Arlo Ultra Wire-Free Security Camera
This suggests that precision is important in order to not be misleading. In the Air Conditioners section https://www.apple.com/ios/home/accessories/#section-ac GE only has one line
Which links to a dedicated Smart Room Air Conditioners page https://www.geappliances.com/ge/connected-appliances/air-conditioners.htm which is a separate landing page than the all products page, which lists residential air conditioners, commercial air conditioners, and dehumidifiers & air purifiers each separately. This suggests to me an intention to link Apple to GE with the specific filter of smart appliances.
Screenshot of the GE website with the Apple HomeKit support logo that links to GE’s support page to connect the smart air conditioners to Apple’s Home app
This smart room air conditioners page, the page linked from Apple’s Home website, features a Works with Apple HomeKit logo, that itself links to a product page with information about connecting the air conditioners to the Apple Home app https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=37108.
As it turns out, none of the air conditioners listed on this page support HomeKit: AHEK08AC AHEK10AC AHEK12AC AHEK14AC AHFK18AA AHFK24AA APWA14YZMW
It appears in 2018 GE did make a model with support for HomeKit but that is currently not true.
These two websites, the Apple and GE pages, influenced my purchasing decision. I looked at consumer reports which had an LG model as the top recommendation, but while it had WiFi support it did not have HomeKit and that is why I went with the GE model.
When I contacted GE, I was informed my request would be added to the product backlog as a feature enhancement.
When I contacted Apple, I received the following response:
Apple appreciates the customer providing Apple feedback regarding our support site. Please be assured this matter has been forwarded to the appropriate individuals.
While Apple empathizes with the customer's situation, Apple neither manufactures nor warranties GE products. As such, Apple refers the customer to GE for inquiries and warranty service related to this third-party product.
Apple considers this matter closed.
Sincerely,
Apple Inc.
Overall, I take this as a lesson learned for myself and my intent is to document my experience. As products become increasingly differentiated on services, having accurate representations of what is offered should remain a priority.