A New Strategy for the Smart Home Market

During its recent "Welcome Home" event, Apple announced the Apple Home Collection, a series of recommended smart home peripherals developed in collaboration with industry giants LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. By partnering with established manufacturers, Apple aims to bypass the complexities of internal hardware production while ensuring a cohesive ecosystem for its new HomeView smart hub.

As Matthew Costello, Apple’s vice president of hardware engineering, stated: «Apple Home Collection makes it easy to choose smart home accessories with confidence. Working closely with industry leaders LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, we designed every accessory to work seamlessly with Apple Home, so managing your home is simple, reliable, and private.»


Curated Device Categories

The collection focuses on three primary pillars of smart home management:

  • Home Access: Featuring the LG Smart Deadbolt Lock.
  • Home Monitoring: Including a video doorbell and a range of indoor/outdoor security cameras manufactured by LG.
  • Home Climate: Offering smart thermostats from both LG and Schneider Electric.

These devices are designed to communicate effortlessly with one another. For instance, the video doorbell and smart lock function as a unified entry system, allowing users to identify visitors and manage access directly through the Home app or via Siri voice commands. The new lock is fully Matter-compatible and supports Aliro, ensuring local functionality even without an active internet connection.


Privacy and Advanced Features

Apple has placed a heavy emphasis on privacy and ease of installation. The new security cameras capture 2.5K resolution video with advanced object recognition—identifying people, pets, vehicles, and packages—without requiring separate subscription fees for storage, provided the user has an iCloud+ plan.

A notable innovation is the LG indoor camera, which addresses privacy concerns through physical movement: «It takes a distinctive approach to privacy in the Home app by automatically tilting upward and downward to adjust the view when users check in on the home, and tilting back down to stop monitoring as soon as the first member of the household returns,» Apple noted.


Climate Control and Ecosystem Integration

The smart thermostats leverage on-device intelligence from the iPhone to provide "Adaptive Temperature" adjustments. By detecting when residents are home, away, or asleep, the system eliminates the need for manual scheduling. These devices are designed for DIY installation, though Apple has confirmed that professional installation services via ADT will be available in the United States starting this fall.

The entire collection supports the Matter standard, reinforcing Apple's commitment to cross-platform compatibility. While the products are set to arrive in stores this December, specific accessories are slated for release in early 2027.