- Apple’s smart home push could include a new home hub alongside refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV hardware.
- LG is reportedly preparing Apple-integrated cameras, doorbells, smart locks and thermostats under the LG brand.
- The partnership could help Apple expand its smart home ecosystem without developing every accessory itself.
Apple smart home aspirations could now start getting more tangible as per recent regulatory filings. According to the recent filing (via Bloomberg), there is an Apple smart home push, a vision that involves the collaboration with LG Electronics.
There could be several products coming up that would be related to connected homes in the partnership between the two companies. The most intriguing part about this initiative is that Apple doesn’t try to manufacture all the devices itself. It will rather rely on LG, which will develop the smart home accessories and sell them under its own brand. Let’s break down the story.
Apple smart home push could bring new cameras, locks, and thermostats
The gadgets listed in these documents address several of the gaps that Apple currently relies on third parties to fill. These are purportedly supposed to include gadgets such as video doorbells, smart deadbolts, thermostats, and security cameras.
The camera offerings can range from indoor and outdoor options to those that feature floodlights. This would be a major leap forward if these gadgets ever came to market.
Essentially, Apple would be capable of providing a much more extensive smart home solution without creating every little gadget individually. The benefit for consumers would be a better integrated experience overall.
Home Hub with display can also function as the control center
Accessories are just a part of the picture. Apple will also be introducing its own home hub device that comes with its display, which will allow people to manage connected devices in their homes from one single place.
Apple will also release updates for the HomePod mini and Apple TV devices. These products can become the cornerstone of Apple’s next smart home platform. The launch might not happen at the same time. Apple’s own hardware is expected first, while the LG-branded accessories can take several more months to arrive.
Why was LG selected by Apple?
On the surface, it is strange that LG would be selected for devices like smart locks and security cameras. But the partnership between LG and Apple is a familiar one. LG has provided display technology for Apple products in addition to working with Apple on many different kinds of hardware products.
Extending their relationship to smart home devices makes sense for both parties. It allows Apple to more quickly enter product categories they have been reluctant to enter, and it allows LG to make their hardware compatible with Apple software.
The big picture
In terms of what makes this Apple smart home move stand out to me, it doesn’t appear that Apple is setting up for itself just another individual device launch. Instead, it seems to be building a bigger platform in which its devices deliver the core functionality while hardware comes from third parties.
Overall, if these rumored devices do indeed materialize, then Apple will be in a position to offer a much more complete solution to the smart home ecosystem than its competitors. This time around, the story might not even be about one new device from Apple but about the ecosystem surrounding it.
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