Best Hardware in 2025 | Home Assistant | Page 1

clever bison Aug 11, 2025, 11:36 AM

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I currently have a Fibaro HCL and a Skaro Automation Bridge pushing everything to Homekit.

With about 20 lights and blinds with Fibaro (Z-Wave) in-wall switches.

And then the rest of the lights are Nanoleaf Matter over Thread.

Just controlling it over iOS Home app. It mostly works fine, occasionally will fall over and need a reboot.

If you were starting over in 2025, what hardware would you run?

I would be keen to push automations a bit further as they are very limited in Homekit.

I also have a 5+ year old NUC (I think i3) and Aeotec Z Stick Gen 5.

Is the NUC fine or is there something better now? I see Beelink recommended a bit here. Andl also the Zooz Gen 8 now?

Originally I wanted to stick to HomeKit and just use the Apple Home app. But open to swapping to the Home Assistant app too.

Thanks in advance.

dusty hare Aug 11, 2025, 4:58 PM

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clever bison I currently have a Fibaro HCL and a Skaro Automation Bridge pushing everything t...

I have some notes HERE and i am a big fan of the beelink stuff but i imagine your 5 year old i3 nuc is probably absolutely fine all be it probably less energy efficient. without knowing the actual spec its hard to know for sure but as said its probably fine and not worth buying new hardware.