- LG is reportedly developing a smart lock, thermostat, cameras and other accessories for Apple’s smart home ecosystem.
- The devices are expected to carry LG branding, with Apple involved in their design and integration.
- Apple is also reportedly preparing a new screen-equipped home hub with a roughly 6-inch display.
Apple’s smart home ambitions could be considerably bigger than a new home hub.
The company is reportedly working with LG Electronics on a range of connected-home accessories, including a smart lock, thermostat, temperature sensor, video doorbell and several types of cameras.
Unlike Apple’s own products, these devices are expected to carry LG branding, with LG reportedly handling manufacturing and product support while Apple works on design, engineering and integration with its Home ecosystem.
The reported arrangement would give Apple a way to expand its smart home platform without having to manufacture every accessory itself.
What smart home devices are Apple and LG reportedly developing?
The reported lineup includes an LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, smart thermostat, temperature sensor, wired video doorbell, indoor camera, outdoor camera and floodlight camera.
Leaked images have reportedly provided an early look at the smart lock, thermostat and temperature sensor, although Apple and LG have not officially announced the products.
The smart lock could be one of the more interesting additions. According to reports, it could feature a rotating keypad, automatic unlocking, tap-to-unlock functionality, emergency power and master codes.
It is also reportedly designed with an Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, which could allow proximity-based unlocking when an authorized device is nearby.
Other reported features include controls for the touchpad's light ring, an alert if the door is left open and adjustable lock-sound volume.
The thermostat is expected to have a large temperature display and could show humidity information. Reports also point to a Far Sight Display, brightness controls and language settings.
A separate temperature sensor could measure both temperature and humidity and reportedly include a magnetic rear, as well as a metal plate and adhesive for alternative mounting.
The accessories are expected to support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread and Matter, potentially allowing them to work across modern smart home ecosystems.
That would be important for Apple because Matter is designed to make compatible smart home devices work across different platforms rather than locking users into one manufacturer's ecosystem.
What is Apple’s new Home hub?
The reported LG accessories appear to be part of a much broader smart home strategy.
Apple is also expected to introduce a new screen-equipped home hub, reportedly featuring a roughly 6-inch square display that can sit on a countertop or be mounted on a wall.
The device, reportedly codenamed J450, is expected to act as a central interface for Apple's Home ecosystem. It could control connected accessories, play music and provide access to Siri and other AI-powered features.
Earlier reports have suggested the hub could use a remote sensor that can provide some camera-like functionality without actually recording video. That could allow Apple to add features while addressing some privacy concerns associated with cameras inside the home.
The larger goal appears to be making Siri more useful in the home. Instead of responding only to individual commands, the system could understand follow-up requests and context, allowing users to have more natural conversations while controlling connected devices.
That could make the hub particularly useful when combined with accessories such as locks, thermostats and cameras.
When could the new Apple smart home products launch?
Reports suggest Apple's new home hub could arrive before some of the LG-developed accessories, with the latter potentially still several months away from reaching stores.
Apple is also expected to introduce an updated Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini as part of its broader home product refresh.
The LG-developed products could therefore form a second layer around Apple's own hardware: Apple provides the central software and ecosystem, while third-party hardware expands what users can control.
That strategy would mark a notable change for Apple, which has traditionally maintained tight control over its hardware lineup.
For consumers, the appeal could be a wider range of smart home products that work closely with Apple devices. But until Apple or LG confirms the products, their final designs, features and launch dates remain uncertain.
If the reports are accurate, however, Apple's next move in the smart home market may be less about making one new device and more about building an entire ecosystem around the home.
