Apple is reportedly working with LG Electronics on a range of smart home devices as part of its broader effort to expand its presence in the connected home market. The partnership could bring several new products to consumers, including security cameras, a smart doorbell and connected home controls.
According to a Bloomberg report, the collaboration emerged from recent regulatory filings involving LG. The South Korean electronics company is expected to manufacture and support the devices, while the products would be sold under the LG brand rather than carrying Apple’s familiar logo.
LG could introduce a wider range of smart home products
The reported partnership is expected to result in a sizeable collection of connected home accessories. Among the products mentioned are a smart doorbell, smart thermostat and smart deadbolt lock, alongside indoor and outdoor security cameras. A floodlight camera is also reportedly part of the planned range.
The devices would give Apple users more options for connecting security and home automation equipment to the company’s wider smart home platform. Instead of manufacturing and selling every accessory itself, Apple appears to be taking an approach that allows established hardware companies to produce compatible devices. At the same time, it focuses on the software and ecosystem.
LG’s involvement could also give the products access to the company’s existing manufacturing capabilities and global support network. The arrangement would let LG produce the hardware and provide product support, while Apple could integrate the devices into its broader smart home strategy.
The move would represent a notable expansion for LG, which is better known for televisions, appliances, smartphones from its former mobile business and other consumer electronics than for dedicated smart home accessories. The company already has experience working with Apple, however, making the reported collaboration less unexpected.
Apple’s smart home strategy is expected to expand
The new LG products are reportedly being developed alongside Apple’s own smart home hardware plans. At the centre of the company’s strategy is a new home hub that Apple has reportedly been working on for several years.
The hub is expected to provide a central way for users to control connected devices around their homes. Apple is also reportedly preparing updated versions of the HomePod Mini and its TV set-top box, suggesting that the company could be building a more comprehensive range of products around home entertainment, automation and connected services.
Apple has previously relied heavily on third-party manufacturers and accessories within the Home ecosystem. However, the reported development of additional Apple-branded hardware could signal a more ambitious attempt to make the home a larger part of its product strategy.
The company could use its existing ecosystem to link together devices such as speakers, televisions, security equipment and household controls. This could allow users to manage more aspects of their homes through Apple’s software and hardware, potentially giving the company a stronger position against established smart home platforms.
While Apple’s own devices are reportedly expected to become available relatively soon, the LG-developed accessories are not expected to launch at the same time. Bloomberg reports that the LG products will not reach the market for “at least a few more months”, meaning customers may have to wait longer for the full range of accessories.
Partnership builds on Apple’s existing relationship with LG
The reported smart home collaboration is not the first time Apple and LG have worked together. The two companies have established links across several areas of consumer electronics, with LG already supporting Apple’s ecosystem through its own products.
LG’s smart televisions, for example, support Apple’s software and services, helping users access features from the Apple ecosystem without necessarily owning an Apple television. The company has also produced displays that can be used with Apple’s computers, giving it an established role in Apple’s wider hardware environment.
LG also produces display panels for Apple’s current monitor products, including the Studio Display and Studio Display XDR. These existing manufacturing relationships could provide a foundation for the companies to work together on a new category of connected devices.
For LG, entering a broader range of smart home products through a partnership with Apple could help expand its presence beyond traditional appliances and large-screen electronics. For Apple, working with an established hardware manufacturer could make it easier to build a larger ecosystem without manufacturing every accessory itself.
Apple is expected to reveal the product range as it prepares to expand its smart home ambitions. If the plans materialise, the partnership could mark an important step in Apple’s attempt to make connected home technology a more significant part of its overall ecosystem.
