Apple and LG co-develop smart home hardware ahead of October 13 launch

Hardware collaboration with LG

Apple is collaborating with LG Electronics to build a new portfolio of connected home devices, according to regulatory filings and reporting from Bloomberg. The co-developed hardware line includes a smart video doorbell, a connected thermostat, indoor and outdoor security cameras, a floodlight camera, and a deadbolt lock that incorporates ultra-wideband technology to unlock automatically as an authorised user approaches the door. Rather than carrying Apple logos, the devices will be sold under the LG brand name. LG is responsible for mass production, hardware assembly, regulatory clearance, and customer service support. Apple oversees the industrial design, specifies functionality, and manages technical engineering to link the devices directly with its HomeKit platform.

This arrangement allows Apple to rapidly expand its ecosystem without shouldering the full cost and complexity of producing and supporting a wide range of accessories.

The accessories support both the Thread mesh networking standard and the cross-platform Matter protocol, forming part of a broader update to Apple's smart home infrastructure. Recent documentation submitted by LG to the US Federal Communications Commission details several specific models in testing, including the LG Video Doorbell Wired, the LG Indoor Cam Plug-In, and the LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In.

Smart home hub and October product event

The LG accessories are built to operate in conjunction with a new smart home command hub, known informally in development reports as the HomePad. The device is equipped with a six-inch display designed for placement on a tabletop or mounting against a wall. The hub runs an integrated Siri AI platform that coordinates connected home appliances, handles video calls, and displays contextual data including weather conditions, news updates, and media playback.

Apple is scheduled to present the smart home display at a product launch event on October 13, 2026. The presentation is also expected to include a refreshed HomePod mini with Apple Intelligence capabilities and a revised Apple TV set-top box. While Apple's first-party hub and entertainment hardware will be available shortly after the event, the co-developed LG accessory lineup is not expected to ship to consumers for at least a few months.

Long-term smart home roadmap and camera development

The LG partnership fits into a broader multi-year hardware roadmap overseen by Apple hardware engineering executive John Ternus. Reporting from Mark Gurman in mid-April indicated that Apple has planned multiple smart home categories to compete with Google Nest and Amazon Ring, including a desktop robotic device featuring a seven-inch screen designed to interact directly with users.

Following the initial leak of the LG agreement, Gurman clarified on X that Apple is still developing a separate, proprietary home security camera. First detailed in September for a targeted 2027 market debut, Apple's standalone camera is designed around privacy protection and will not record video footage. Instead, the device uses on-device artificial intelligence sensors to detect room occupancy and evaluate environmental conditions. The project builds upon established supply ties between Apple and LG, which currently supplies display panels for the Studio Display and Studio Display XDR while distributing Apple software across LG smart televisions.