Old iPhones Can Serve as Siri Smart Home Hubs, BGR Reports

BGR reported that an iPhone no longer in daily use can function as a Siri-based hub for a smart home, an alternative to buying a dedicated speaker or display, according to the outlet's story as circulated via Google News on Oct. 25, 2026. The report frames the idea as a way to put idle hardware back to work rather than detailing a specific model or iOS version required for the setup.

What does BGR's report claim?

The outlet's framing centers on cost and clutter: dedicated smart-home hubs, such as a separate speaker, display or set-top box, typically require a new purchase, while an old iPhone sitting in a drawer already exists in many households, according to BGR's report. The headline and summary available do not specify which iPhone generation or Siri feature set is needed to run hub functions, such as remote access to a house's devices when no one is home.

What would the setup actually require?

BGR's report, as circulated through Google News, does not list the exact software steps, iOS version, or Siri settings needed to convert a retired iPhone into a working hub, based on the material reviewed. It also does not say whether the function works the same way across every iPhone model still eligible for software updates. That gap matters for households that already rely on named routines tied to specific devices, a practice covered in a related Smart Home Central report on naming smart home devices for readable scenes.

How does this fit into broader smart home connectivity trends?

The idea arrives as the smart home industry works through interoperability questions. A Matter protocol update, reported by Smart Home Central in September 2026, was described as simplifying how devices from different manufacturers connect to a single hub. If an iPhone can take on that hub role, it would sit inside an ecosystem already being reshaped by that standard, though BGR's report does not address whether Matter-certified devices behave the same way with an iPhone-based hub as with Apple's own dedicated hardware, according to the material reviewed.

What remains unconfirmed?

Three points remain open based on the sourcing available: which iPhone models qualify, what iOS version is required, and whether the hub function persists if the phone is not kept plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi continuously. BGR's report, as routed through Google News, did not address these points in the headline and summary reviewed for this story. Households considering the approach should check Apple's own support documentation before retiring a backup iPhone from other uses.

How did this story develop?

• Sept. 16, 2026: Smart Home Central reported on naming smart home devices to make automation scenes easier to read.
• Sept. 17, 2026: Smart Home Central reported that a Matter protocol update was designed to simplify connections between devices from different manufacturers.
• Oct. 25, 2026: BGR reported that an old iPhone could serve as a Siri-based smart home hub, a claim circulated via Google News without a detailed technical walkthrough in the material reviewed.