Apple And LG Team Up On New Smart Home Gear, Starting With A Lock, Doorbell, And Thermostat

TL;DR

Prime Big Deal Days · Oct 6–7Offer from Amazon

Get kitchen gear delivered free — and shop member deals

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

Bloomberg reports that Apple and LG are collaborating on a new range of smart home devices, including a video doorbell, thermostat, cameras and a deadbolt lock. The products are expected to carry LG branding and work with Apple’s rumored smart home hub, but Apple has not confirmed the partnership, devices or launch plans.

Apple is working with LG on a new lineup of smart home devices, including a video doorbell, thermostat and deadbolt lock, according to Bloomberg. The reported collaboration could give Apple a broader range of connected home products to accompany a rumored smart home hub, though neither company has publicly confirmed the plans.

Bloomberg’s report describes the arrangement as a “second-party” development partnership. The devices are expected to carry LG branding and integrate with Apple’s rumored home hub. The reported lineup includes an indoor camera, an outdoor security camera and a floodlight camera, in addition to the doorbell, thermostat and lock.

Several devices are reportedly set to support Thread and Matter, standards designed to help smart home products work across different platforms. Bloomberg also reports that the deadbolt will include ultra-wideband technology, which could let it unlock automatically as a user approaches. That capability is described as a possibility; its operation and availability have not been confirmed by Apple or LG.

The products are tied in the report to Apple’s expected smart home hub, which Bloomberg has previously described as having a six-inch display and Siri AI features. The hub could be mounted on a wall or placed on a table. The report does not provide confirmed prices, release dates or technical specifications for the LG devices.

A Wider HomeKit Device Lineup

If the reported plans proceed, the partnership would extend Apple’s smart home offering beyond its own devices and software. A lineup spanning entry access, climate control and home security could give customers more ways to build a connected home around Apple’s platform. The reported inclusion of Matter and Thread could also help the devices communicate with products from other manufacturers, although support details for each item remain unknown.

The report also links the devices to a possible HomeKit reboot. For existing Apple users, the practical question is whether the new products will work smoothly with current HomeKit setups, and whether the rumored hub will add meaningful functions. Those outcomes cannot be assessed from the reported plans alone.

Apple’s Expected Home Hub

Apple has been rumored for months to be preparing a larger push into smart home hardware. Bloomberg previously reported that the company was working on a Siri-enabled hub with a display that could sit on furniture or be mounted on a wall. The Verge says Apple is expected to discuss the hub at an event on October 13; that date and any product announcements remain unconfirmed by Apple in the supplied reporting.

The same event could also include a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV, according to Bloomberg reporting cited by The Verge. Those products are separate from the LG lineup, and the available report does not establish whether all of the rumored devices will be announced together.

““second-party” development arrangement”

— Bloomberg, as cited by The Verge

Details Await Company Confirmation

Apple and LG have not confirmed the partnership or the reported products in the supplied source material. It is not clear which devices will launch, when they might go on sale, how much they could cost, or which features each model will support. The report also does not specify whether every product will work with Matter and Thread.

The deadbolt’s reported ultra-wideband feature could enable proximity-based unlocking, but the source does not explain how users would configure it, what safeguards would apply, or whether automatic unlocking would be optional. The hub’s final name, price, availability and capabilities are also unknown. The expected October event may provide answers, but no announcement is guaranteed by the reporting.

Watch for Apple’s October Event

The next reported milestone is Apple’s expected event on October 13. If the company presents its smart home plans then, it may clarify whether the hub is real and how it will work with devices made by LG. Apple or LG could also confirm the reported lineup, compatibility standards and availability.

Until either company speaks publicly, the product list, launch timing and feature claims remain based on reporting attributed to Bloomberg. Readers should look for official product announcements and specifications before treating the reported details as final.

Key Questions

What smart home devices are Apple and LG reportedly developing?

Bloomberg reports the lineup may include a video doorbell, thermostat, deadbolt lock, indoor camera, outdoor security camera and floodlight camera. Neither company has confirmed the list.

Will the devices work with Apple’s rumored smart home hub?

The report says the LG-branded products are expected to integrate with Apple’s rumored hub. Apple has not announced the hub or confirmed compatibility.

When could Apple announce the products?

The Verge reports that Apple is expected to hold an event on October 13, where it may discuss its smart home plans. The date and any product announcements have not been confirmed in the supplied reporting.

Could the reported lock unlock automatically?

Bloomberg reports that the deadbolt will include ultra-wideband technology that could allow it to unlock as a user approaches. The feature and its details remain unconfirmed.

Source: rss