Apple is teaming up with LG on smart locks, cameras, thermostats and more for its new home hub

Apple has entered into a partnership with LG Electronics to develop a range of smart home devices, including cameras, door locks, and temperature controls, which will be compatible with Apple's upcoming Home Hub, HomePod mini, and new TV set-top box. The collaboration allows Apple to expand its hardware lineup while LG takes on the manufacturing and support responsibilities.

Scheduled to launch in mid-October, the Apple devices will be complemented by LG accessories, expected to be released several months later. The devices include a wired video doorbell, indoor and outdoor plug-in cameras, a floodlight camera, a smart deadbolt, a thermostat, and a temperature sensor. These products aim to enhance Apple's system beyond entertainment and voice commands, delving into home monitoring, entry, and heating and cooling control.

Many of these accessories support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Matter, two smart home protocols adopted by Apple and its competitors. The inclusion of these protocols indicates the connection technologies that LG intends to integrate into the hardware. Notably, the smart deadbolt also features Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, enabling the lock to unlock automatically when a user approaches the door, eliminating the need for a manual command.

The product names suggest their installation methods, such as the LG Video Doorbell Wired and the LG Indoor Cam Plug-In. Apple's involvement in the project is expected to shape the design, features, and engineering of the devices before their market release. This partnership is part of Apple's efforts to revitalize HomeKit, a platform introduced in 2014 that has struggled to gain traction compared to competitors like Amazon and Google.

Apple also plans to introduce a privacy-focused home-monitoring device, a screen-mounted robotic arm, and an in-home security monitoring service. For LG, the partnership marks its first entry into the smart home market in nearly a decade, with the indoor camera being its first product in nearly a decade, and several other devices entering categories where the company has had no recent offerings.