Apple is preparing a major push into the smart home with a range of LG-branded devices including a doorbell, cameras, thermostat and smart lock, according to Bloomberg.
Apple is reportedly teaming up with LG Electronics to develop a range of smart home devices as it prepares to relaunch its ambitions in the sector.
Bloomberg reports the products will form part of an ecosystem built around Apple’s new smart home hub, alongside an upgraded HomePod mini and a new Apple TV set-top box.
Apple’s new devices are expected to be unveiled on October 13, according to people familiar with the plans.
LG’s products will include a smart doorbell, indoor and outdoor security cameras, a floodlight camera, smart deadbolt lock, thermostat and temperature sensor, per Bloomberg.
Although Apple and LG have worked together on the accessories, they will carry the LG brand, with the South Korean company responsible for manufacturing and product support.
The arrangement reflects a strategy Apple has previously used with companies including Belkin and Logitech, allowing it to expand its ecosystem without taking on the full cost of manufacturing and supporting every accessory itself.
Regulatory filings in the US have provided further evidence of LG’s plans.
The company has sought approval for several devices through the Federal Communications Commission and UL Solutions, with filings naming products including the LG Video Doorbell Wired, LG Floodlight Cam and LG Smart Deadbolt Lock.
Many of the devices support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as Thread and Matter, smart home standards backed by Apple and other major technology companies.
The smart lock also reportedly supports ultra-wideband, potentially allowing it to unlock automatically when a user approaches.
The accessories are not expected to reach consumers for several months, with development reportedly behind Apple’s own hardware.
Apple and LG declined to comment to Bloomberg.
For Apple, the move represents a renewed attempt to challenge Amazon and Google in the smart home market.
Its HomeKit platform, launched in 2014, has struggled to achieve the same level of adoption as Amazon’s Ring and Google’s Nest ecosystems.
Apple hopes its new hardware, combined with its Siri AI assistant, can change that.
LG is also expanding beyond its traditional strength in televisions and appliances.
The new range would include its first indoor camera in almost a decade, alongside its first outdoor camera, floodlight camera, thermostat and doorbell in recent years.
The companies have worked together for years, with LG Display supplying screens for numerous Apple products.
Apple and LG join forces to launch smart home devices
