Apple Launches Smart Home Devices with LG

Close-up view of wireless earbuds next to an Apple keyboard on a wooden desk surface. Photo: Connor Scott McManus/Pexels

Apple Inc. is set to launch a range of smart home devices, including a doorbell, thermostat, and lock, developed in partnership with LG Electronics Inc. The products will be part of an ecosystem that works with Apple’s new smart home hub and an upgraded HomePod mini.

According to people with knowledge of the matter, the new devices will be introduced on October 13. The products developed with LG will also include a smart deadbolt lock, indoor security camera, outdoor security camera, and floodlight camera.

Partnership Details

Though the two companies worked together to develop the accessories, the products will carry the LG brand. LG will handle manufacturing and product support, while Apple will help shape the products’ design and features.

This arrangement is not new for Apple, which has worked with companies like Foxconn Technology Group’s Belkin and Logitech International SA to develop products that sell under other brands. This strategy allows Apple to quickly expand its ecosystem without shouldering the full cost and complexity of producing and supporting a wide range of accessories.

Regulatory Approval

LG has sought regulatory approval for the devices, including with the US Federal Communications Commission and UL Solutions, a product certification company. The filings include product names, specifications, features, and drawings of the accessories, such as the LG Video Doorbell Wired and LG Smart Thermostat.

The devices will support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks, as well as Thread and Matter, two smart home protocols that Apple and its rivals support. The door lock will also support ultra-wideband capability, allowing for auto-unlocking when users approach their door.

Market Impact

For Apple, the new home ecosystem and devices will mark a formal reboot of HomeKit, a platform it launched in 2014. The company aims to use its smart home devices and Siri AI assistant to breathe new life into the category, competing with Amazon’s Ring and Google’s Nest.

LG’s smart home expansion will also put the company in closer competition with these established players. The lineup represents LG’s first indoor camera in nearly a decade, as well as its first outdoor camera, thermostat, floodlight camera, and doorbell in recent history.

Apple and LG have a long history of partnership, with LG Display supplying displays for many Apple products. They have also worked together on integrating Apple’s services into LG TV sets, and have codeveloped monitors in the past.