Full Breakdown
Apple and LG Team Up on a New Line of LG-Branded Smart-Home Accessories
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Joint Development of Seven Home-Automation Devices
Apple is collaborating with LG Electronics to create a suite of seven smart-home accessories that will work with Apple’s forthcoming home hub. The lineup, identified in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and UL Solutions filings, includes a wired video doorbell, a floodlight camera, indoor and outdoor security cameras, a smart deadbolt lock, a smart thermostat, and a temperature sensor. All products will be manufactured, branded, and supported by LG, while Apple will contribute to design, engineering, and HomeKit integration.
Background & Context
Apple’s HomeKit platform, launched in 2014, has struggled to attract a broad ecosystem compared with Amazon’s Ring and Google’s Nest. To revitalize its smart-home offering, Apple is adopting a “second-party” supplier model, allowing it to influence hardware without bearing manufacturing costs. LG, which acquired a majority stake in the Homey smart-home platform in 2024, sees the partnership as a rapid entry into a market where its brand is relatively unknown.
Data & Statistics
- Device count: 7 accessories (doorbell, floodlight cam, indoor cam, outdoor cam, smart lock, thermostat, sensor).
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Matter; the lock also includes ultra-wideband (UWB); the thermostat adds 60 GHz radar and a “Far Sight” display.
- Lock features: rotating keypad, mechanical key backup, automatic unlocking, tap-to-unlock, emergency power, adjustable light ring, door-left audio alarm, lock-sound volume control.
- Thermostat features: circular design, large display, humidity readout, brightness and language settings, calibrated temperature offset.
- Sensor features: magnetic back for metal mounting, adhesive metal plate, CR2477 replaceable battery with low-power Bluetooth and Thread.
Official Statements & Responses
Apple and LG have not provided comment on the partnership. The FCC filings list the devices under LG’s name and do not mention Apple.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Launch timing: Multiple outlets (Bloomberg, The Verge, How-to-Geek, Wi-Fiplanet) state the LG accessories will be available “a few months after” Apple’s October 13 event, implying a near-term release.
- Product details: While FCC documents confirm hardware specifications, the exact consumer-facing functions of the thermostat’s radar and the lock’s credential-checking sequence remain unverified. Pricing, battery life, and full compatibility with non-Apple platforms have not been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The co-development strategy with LG is fairly unusual for Apple,” — Mark Gurman, the Bloomberg reporter behind the story, on X
- “Though the two companies worked together to develop the accessories, the products will carry the LG brand,” — Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Bloomberg reporter behind the story, on X
What’s Next
Apple is slated to unveil its new smart-home hub, an updated Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini at its October 13 event. No pricing information is available, and Apple and LG have declined to comment on future plans.