As an early adopter and member of the Athom Alpha Tester Program, I was thrilled to receive the new Homey Pro Early 2023 for testing. The unboxing experience was straightforward, with the device arriving in a sleek black box containing all necessary components, including a USB-C cable and power adapter. The setup process via the Homey Mobile App was impressively smooth, utilizing Bluetooth for initial discovery and WiFi connection, followed by a guided setup that included restoring a backup and configuring home settings.
The Homey Pro Early 2023, powered by a Raspberry Pi Compute module, offers a familiar interface to existing Homey users while introducing exciting new features like Advanced Flows without the need for a subscription. However, some users might notice missing functionalities such as Speech and Sound, which are expected in future updates.
One of the standout improvements is the development environment. Apps now run in Docker containers on the developer’s workstation, significantly speeding up the testing process. This shift makes development more efficient, especially for those familiar with previous Homey models.
The new Mobile App, still in beta, presents a fresh look with intuitive navigation, though some features are subject to change. The integration with the Athom Account allows seamless device management and backup/restore operations, which I am currently testing to ensure compatibility with my existing setup.
During my testing, I encountered a few quirks, such as occasional device unreachability, which I reported to Athom for further investigation. Despite these minor issues, the Homey Pro Early 2023 demonstrates a solid foundation with potential for even greater capabilities as updates roll out.
For anyone considering this device, I recommend starting with a non-critical setup to explore its features while keeping an eye on community updates for troubleshooting tips. The Homey Pro Early 2023 is a promising addition to the smart home ecosystem, and I am eager to see how it evolves in the coming months.