Apple is making a major leap into the smart home market with its newly revealed Apple Home Collection, a suite of smart accessories crafted in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Announced on October 13, 2026, the collection includes cameras (indoor and outdoor), video doorbells, smart deadbolt lock, thermostats, and temperature sensors. These are designed to work seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem, especially its new smart home hub, HomeView, offering setup via a single tap with iPhone and control entirely through the Home app.
Device Highlights & Capabilities
The Home Collection’s camera line features four devices from LG: a Video Doorbell with two separate lenses (one for visitors, one for packages), an Outdoor Cam with plug-in flexibility and low-light color night vision, a Floodlight Cam with adaptive dual floodlights, and an Indoor Cam with automatic tilt-down when occupancy is detected for privacy. All cameras record at up to 2.5K resolution, recognize people, pets, packages, and vehicles, and store event history securely via iCloud+.
Apple’s Smart Deadbolt Lock by LG integrates Ultra Wideband (UWB)to detect when an authorized user wearing an iPhone or Apple Watch is approaching, unlocking the door without tapping. It also includes a keypad, hidden backup key slot, and sensors to detect if the door is opened, closed, or tampered with. The lock supports Matter and Aliro, with core functions available even if offline.
Climate control gets two new Smart Thermostats—one from LG and another from Schneider Electric—alongside standalone temperature and humidity sensors. They adjust heating and cooling automatically using on-device intelligence, reacting to occupancy and activity, and support features like Clean Energy Guidance in compatible U.S. utility areas. The thermostat line works broadly across HVAC systems, simplifies installation with on-device wire detection, and is compatible with Matter for smarter interoperability.
HomeView: Apple’s New Smart Display Hub
Alongside Home Collection, Apple introduced HomeView, a $299 device with a 7-inch display that serves as the centerpiece of its smart home strategy. Available in countertop and wall-mounted versions, HomeView includes a front FaceTime camera, built-in speakers and microphones. It enables viewing of camera feeds, adjusting thermostats, locking doors, and hands-free control via Siri AI. It supports “faces” like the Camera view (shows multiple live feeds) or Modular view for favorite accessories.
Privacy is designed into both the devices and the hub: all accessories use end-to-end encryption under Apple Home. HomeView uses Secure Exclaves in silicon to process camera, microphone, and personal data in isolation. Even shared devices can present personal content only when they recognize a user and their paired iPhone or iPad has been recently unlocked.
The products begin shipping in December 2026, with some items—particularly several accessories—available early in 2027. Pricing in the U.S. starts at $199.95 for appliances like the LG Smart Thermostat and Indoor Cam, while premium pieces like the LG Floodlight Cam are priced at $399.95.
Additionally, professional installation via ADT will be offered in U.S. Apple Retail stores starting this fall for those who prefer assistance getting set up.
What this means for users: for the first time, Apple is delivering not just accessories, but an entire curated lineup engineered to work together, managed from a single dashboard. The HomeView hub positions Apple as a stronger contender against Amazon and Google in smart home—competing with Nest smart displays and Ring-type device ecosystems—not by duplicating their offerings, but by emphasizing integration, privacy, and user convenience. Key milestones to watch include the rollout of Siri AI capabilities in HomeView across different countries, support for Matter and Thread network standards, and how well Apple’s simplified setup and privacy claims hold up in real-world usage.
