Code in the iOS 26 Home app describes a new ‘Adaptive Temperature’ feature

Steve Moser has posted on X about some code he found in the Home app of the iOS 26 beta. The code describes an “Adaptive Temperature” feature for home thermostats, which appears to offer several different ways to automatically adjust the temperature in your home.

There are At Home and Away temperature changes, which automatically change your thermostat when you’re home or about to arrive, but backs it off when you’re not at home.

The code also describes a feature to adjust your temperature by small amounts to reduce electricity usage when the energy in your area is less clean, or when the rates are higher.

These are features of some smart home thermostats, like the latest Nest products, but there are plenty of smart home thermostats that don’t offer these features. Those that do can’t have them adjusted in the Home app–you usually need to use the manufacturer’s app to adjust features like advanced scheduling, home/away temperatures, or optimizations to adjust for time-of-day electricity rates.

If Apple is preparing to launch a new smart home hub product, it needs to bolster the capabilities and design of the Home app to offer more complete control over smart home products, especially as the rumored “HomePad” is said not to feature an app store and third-party apps.