Apple and LG team up on doorbell, lock, thermostat, cameras

Bloomberg reports that Apple and LG have been working together on a series of connected home products, including a doorbell, thermostat, smart deadbolt lock, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and a floodlight camera. The accessories are meant to complement Apple's upcoming smart home hub and mark "a formal reboot of HomeKit," according to the report.

The products will carry the LG brand, not Apple's, with LG handling manufacturing and product support, Bloomberg says. Apple's role is in design, features, and engineering oversight, a setup the report calls "second-party suppliers." This lets Apple expand its home ecosystem without the full cost of producing and supporting accessories.

Bloomberg notes that LG has recently sought regulatory approval for the devices, including filings with the US Federal Communications Commission and UL Solutions. The filings list products such as the LG Video Doorbell Wired, LG Floodlight Cam, LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In, LG Indoor Cam Plug-In, LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, LG Smart Thermostat, and LG Temperature Sensor. LG has asked that photos and precise details stay confidential until early next year, and the filings don't mention Apple.

Many devices will support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Matter, per Bloomberg. The smart lock also includes ultra-wideband, enabling proximity-based features like automatic door unlocking.

These products aren't expected to reach consumers for at least a few more months, well after Apple's expected smart home hub announcement next week. Bloomberg also reports Apple has its own plans ahead, including a privacy-focused home-monitoring device, a hub with a robotic arm, and an in-home security monitoring service.

For now, if you're thinking about a smart doorbell or lock, this is a "wait" situation unless you need something immediately. The LG-branded devices, with Apple's engineering behind them, could be worth holding out for, but there's no launch date yet.

• Apple
• doorbell
• HomeKit
• LG
• smart home
• thermostat