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Apple has announced a smart home collection developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, with products including cameras, thermostats, sensors, a video doorbell and a smart lock. The devices are designed for setup and management through Apple Home, with Thread support across the range and Matter compatibility specified for selected products. Sales are due to start in December, with some products expected in early 2027.
Apple has announced Apple Home Collection, a new range of smart home devices developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, with sales scheduled to begin in December. The collection includes cameras, a video doorbell, thermostats, temperature sensors and a smart deadbolt, designed to be set up on an iPhone and managed through Apple Home without a separate manufacturer app or account.
Apple says it worked directly with the two manufacturers to develop the products and their integration with the Home app, rather than simply certifying devices built independently. Every product in the collection supports Thread. Apple identifies the smart deadbolt, thermostats and temperature and humidity sensors as Matter-compatible; the announcement does not say that every product supports Matter.
LG’s collection includes four cameras, each recording at up to 2.5K resolution, and a video doorbell with separate camera views for visitors and packages. Apple says the cameras can recognise people, familiar faces, pets, vehicles and packages. Compatible cameras can store event recordings in iCloud+, with up to 10 days of event video history. Apple says eligible iCloud+ plans can also use Apple Intelligence to describe events and search footage in natural language.
The LG smart deadbolt combines Matter and Thread with Apple home key, Ultra Wideband and Aliro. Apple says users can unlock it by approaching with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, tapping a device, entering a PIN or using a concealed physical key. The lock can report whether the door is open or closed and detect possible tampering. Schneider Electric’s contribution focuses on climate control and energy management, including a new smart thermostat.
Apple Takes a Larger Hardware Role
The collection marks a more direct role for Apple in the design and integration of home accessories. Apple has previously supplied the Home app and supported HomeKit and, more recently, Matter products made by other companies. Working with manufacturers from the development stage could give Apple greater influence over setup, connectivity and how devices behave in Home, although the company has not detailed how responsibilities for product support or updates will be divided.
For customers, the promised ability to set up and manage the devices without separate manufacturer apps or accounts could reduce friction when adding accessories to an Apple home. The range also brings several categories—security cameras, entry access and climate controls—under one interface. That may appeal to people who already use Apple Home, but the announcement does not establish whether the products will be more convenient, reliable or private than competing devices; those questions will depend on real-world performance and the final product details.
Thread support across the collection, alongside Matter compatibility for specified products, gives the launch a broader connectivity dimension. Thread is designed as a low-power mesh network for smart home devices, while Matter is intended to support interoperability across compatible platforms. Apple says Thread can help devices maintain connectivity when Wi-Fi is unavailable and that network credentials can update automatically after a home Wi-Fi change. These are product claims that customers will be able to evaluate once the devices are available.
Apple HomeKit compatible security cameras
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From HomeKit Platform to Products
Apple’s smart home approach has largely centred on the Home app, HomeKit framework and Matter support, with other companies making the accessories. The Home Collection changes that arrangement by having Apple collaborate with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric on the products and their Home integration. The announcement describes this as a direct development partnership; it does not say Apple will manufacture the devices itself.
The collection also combines established smart home standards with Apple-specific features. Matter is named for the deadbolt, thermostats and temperature and humidity sensors, while Thread is stated to be present across the range. The deadbolt’s support for Aliro is part of its access-control offering, alongside Apple home key. Apple has not supplied a complete compatibility breakdown for every device or explained how Aliro access will work across different phones and systems.
“The aim of Apple Home Collection is to make choosing compatible smart home accessories easier, while providing a consistent experience across Apple Home.”
— Matthew Costello, Apple vice president of Hardware Engineering
Prices and Compatibility Details Pending
Apple has not announced prices, exact launch dates or a full country-by-country availability plan. The source report says availability begins in December, with selected products arriving in early 2027, but does not identify which items will be delayed. It also does not provide a complete specification list or state that all devices support Matter; Apple explicitly names Matter compatibility only for the deadbolt, thermostats and temperature and humidity sensors.
Further details are also needed on Aliro’s compatibility beyond the smart deadbolt, the specific iPhone and Apple Watch models required for automatic unlocking, and which iCloud+ plans enable camera recording and Apple Intelligence features. Apple says camera footage and Home app data are protected with end-to-end encryption, but product testing and fuller technical documentation will be needed to clarify how each security feature works. The announcement does not establish whether the devices will operate fully without an internet connection or how long stored footage remains available beyond the stated event-history period.
Launch Details Expected Before December
Apple says sales will start in December 2026, with selected products scheduled for early 2027. Before launch, buyers will need product-by-product pricing, release dates and regional availability to compare the range with existing Home accessories. More detailed specifications should also clarify supported hubs, device requirements, subscription eligibility and how setup and account-free use work in practice.
Once products reach customers, hands-on testing can assess the claims about Thread connectivity, automatic Wi-Fi credential updates, camera recording during Wi-Fi outages and hands-free deadbolt unlocking. Until those details and results are available, the announcement confirms Apple’s partnership and product categories, but not how the collection will perform across different homes.
Key Questions
What is Apple Home Collection?
It is a new range of smart home accessories that Apple says it developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The announced products include cameras, a video doorbell, thermostats, temperature sensors and a smart deadbolt.
When will the products be available?
Apple says availability begins in December 2026, with selected products arriving in early 2027. Exact release dates and regional availability have not been provided.
Does every device support Matter?
Apple says every product in the range supports Thread. It specifically identifies the smart deadbolt, thermostats and temperature and humidity sensors as Matter-compatible; the announcement does not confirm Matter support for every product.
Will customers need a separate LG or Schneider Electric app?
Apple says the products can be set up from an iPhone and managed through Apple Home without a separate manufacturer app or account. The company has not yet published all setup and compatibility requirements.
What does Aliro support mean for the smart lock?
The announced LG smart deadbolt supports Aliro as well as Apple home key, Matter, Thread and Ultra Wideband. Apple has not provided full details on Aliro compatibility with devices or platforms beyond the information in its announcement.
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