Apple Taps LG to Build Its Smart Home Lineup, and the LG Name Goes on the Box
Key takeaways
- Apple and LG are reportedly co-developing a lock, thermostat and doorbell that will carry LG branding
- The products are built to work with an Apple home hub with a 6-inch square display, reportedly launching October 13
- Security cameras and a floodlight are also reportedly in the works, putting pressure on Amazon's Ring
Apple is reportedly preparing a broad push into the connected home, and it is not doing it alone. According to a Bloomberg report summarized by TechCrunch, the company is working with LG on a set of devices that includes a smart lock, a thermostat and a video doorbell. The products are designed to plug into an Apple smart home hub that is said to launch on October 13. Neither company has confirmed the plans, and TechCrunch says it has asked Apple for comment.
What is reportedly coming
The hub is the center of the plan. It is expected to have a 6-inch square display that can sit on a countertop or mount on a wall, giving households a dedicated screen for controlling devices, viewing camera feeds and managing routines. Think of it as a control panel for the house, rather than an iPhone app you have to open each time.
Around that hub, the LG-built devices would handle the day-to-day jobs: locking and unlocking doors, adjusting temperature and answering the front door. The two companies are also said to be developing a series of security cameras, with indoor and outdoor models plus a floodlight camera. The LG products are expected to be announced next week, though not necessarily released right away.
One detail stands out. The devices will reportedly carry LG branding even though both companies helped develop them. That is an unusual arrangement for Apple, which typically puts its own name and industrial design on anything it sells. It suggests Apple wants to enter categories where it lacks manufacturing and distribution experience without taking on all the risk of a first-party hardware line.
Why the LG partnership makes sense
Smart locks, thermostats and cameras are very different from phones and laptops. They involve door hardware, wiring compatibility, outdoor weatherproofing and security certifications, and they live in a retail channel dominated by established brands. LG already makes home appliances and has experience with connected products, so it brings manufacturing scale and a place on store shelves.
For Apple, the value is ecosystem control. Its existing smart home framework, HomeKit, and the newer industry standard Matter allow third-party devices to work with Apple products, but the experience can be uneven. Devices built in close cooperation with Apple could be tuned to work more reliably with the hub, with tighter setup flows and consistent privacy protections. Apple has long positioned itself as the privacy-minded option in the home, and security cameras and door locks are exactly the products where that pitch matters most.
Putting LG's name on the products may also soften the commitment. If the lineup sells well, Apple benefits from a stronger platform. If it stumbles, the brand risk falls partly on LG.
The Amazon angle
TechCrunch frames the move as a swipe at Amazon, and the comparison is fair. Amazon owns Ring, one of the best-known names in video doorbells and home security cameras, and sells a wide range of Echo devices with screens that act as home controllers. Google also has a presence through its Nest products. Apple has been the odd one out among the big platform companies, with a strong phone ecosystem but a thinner set of products inside the home itself.
A hub with a display, paired with first-party-adjacent sensors and cameras, would close much of that gap. It would also give Apple a reason to keep customers tied to its services, since camera storage, voice features and automation tend to become subscription or platform-lock-in opportunities.
There are open questions. Pricing has not been reported, and neither has how the devices will handle compatibility with Matter and with non-Apple phones. Security cameras raise questions about where video is stored and processed. Those details will likely decide whether this is a serious challenge to Ring or simply a tidy accessory line for existing iPhone owners.
If the reports are accurate, answers could arrive within days. The hub is reportedly due October 13, with the LG lineup expected to be announced around the same time.
