Apple (AAPL.US) Teams Up with LG to Enter Smart Home Market: Accessories such as doorbells, thermostats, and cameras to feature LG branding

According to The Smart Finance APP, sources reveal that Apple (AAPL.US) is set to expand its smart home device portfolio, including doorbells, thermostats, and other accessories, which will be developed through an unusual collaboration between Apple and LG Electronics. These products will be integrated into an ecosystem of devices that can work with Apple's new smart home hub, and will also be compatible with the upgraded HomePod mini and new set-top box. Apple's own new devices are scheduled for release on October 13.

According to people familiar with the matter, products co-developed by Apple and Korea's LG include smart door locks, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and floodlight cameras. Since these matters are not yet public, the individuals requested anonymity. Although both parties are involved in development, the products will carry the LG brand, with LG responsible for manufacturing and product support.

Apple has previously adopted similar strategies, quietly teaming up with companies such as Belkin, under Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn) and Logitech International, to develop products sold under other brands. This arrangement with so-called "second-party suppliers" allows Apple to quickly expand its ecosystem without having to bear the full cost and complexity of manufacturing and supporting a complete line of accessories. At the same time, Apple can still influence product design, custom features, and oversee engineering, while keeping the overall project relatively low-profile.

However, development of LG’s accessories is lagging behind Apple’s self-branded devices and is not expected to reach consumers for several more months. Spokespeople for both Apple and LG declined to comment.

In recent weeks, LG has sought regulatory approval for these devices, including applications with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and product certification firm UL Solutions. Regulatory filings in the databases of both agencies reveal product names, specifications, features, and schematics, including LG Wired Video Doorbell, LG Floodlight Camera, LG Plug-in Outdoor Camera, LG Plug-in Indoor Camera, LG Smart Door Lock, LG Smart Thermostat, and LG Temperature Sensor. LG has requested that related photos and more precise details remain confidential until early next year. The filings do not mention Apple's involvement.

Most of these devices support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks as well as Thread and Matter—the two major smart home protocols embraced in recent years by Apple and its competitors. The door lock also supports Ultra Wideband (UWB) functionality, allowing it to unlock automatically when users approach.

For Apple, the new home ecosystem and devices will signify a formal relaunch of HomeKit. Introduced in 2014, HomeKit has struggled to gain significant market traction compared to products from Amazon and Alphabet's Google. Apple aims to inject new energy into this category with smart home devices and the Siri AI assistant. According to Bloomberg News, Apple also plans to launch more proprietary products in the future, including a privacy-centric home monitoring device, a smart home hub version with a screen connected to a robotic arm, and home security monitoring services.

For LG, a company best known for TVs and washing machines, this will also broaden its smart home business. This product line marks its first indoor camera in nearly a decade, as well as its first recent outdoor camera, thermostat, floodlight camera, and doorbell. The company will also sell its first smart lock outside the Korean market. This will put Apple and LG in more direct competition with Amazon’s Ring and Google’s Nest, both of which already offer similar devices allowing users to monitor different areas of their homes and surroundings.

Apple and LG share a longstanding partnership. While the two were once rivals in the smartphone sector, Apple and certain LG Group subsidiaries have now become key partners. LG Display supplies screens for many Apple products, and Apple has worked with LG Electronics to integrate its services into LG TVs. Nearly a decade ago, when Apple temporarily exited the external computer display market, it jointly developed monitors with LG to accompany Apple laptops.