LG is reportedly making a doorbell, lock and cameras for Apple's home hub

[Voyager18]

Apple is working with LG Electronics on smart home accessories for its upcoming home hub, MacRumors reports, citing Bloomberg. Filings LG submitted to the FCC and UL Solutions show seven devices: a wired video doorbell, a thermostat, a smart deadbolt lock, a temperature sensor, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and a floodlight camera. Apple is not named in the filings, and LG asked the FCC to keep details confidential

LG will build and brand the devices, but Bloomberg says Apple helped develop them. Several support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread and Matter, and the lock also supports ultra wideband for automatic unlocking when you get close. Bloomberg explained: "This arrangement with so-called second-party suppliers gives Apple a way to quickly expand its ecosystem". It means Apple can offer a full smart home range without making everything itself

Apple is expected to announce its home hub, along with a new Apple TV 4K and a new HomePod mini, on 13 October. The LG accessories are reportedly a few months from launch. LG bought a majority stake in smart home platform Homey in 2024, and MacRumors suggests LG may be aiming to compete with Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Ring and Google Nest

Earlier this month we discussed reports that Apple's own smart home camera would not record video at all, a strongly privacy focused approach. It will be interesting to see whether LG's cameras follow the same philosophy. Smart home security cameras have been controversial because of privacy and data sharing concerns, especially with Ring. Apple's reputation for privacy could be a big selling point if the products live up to it

Would you trust Apple and LG with your smart home security? And is Matter finally making smart home devices work together properly?

LG Making Doorbell, Lock, and Cameras for Apple's Home Hubwww.macrumors.com