Apple Announces the new Home collection with cameras, smart locks and thermostats

Apple has announced the new Apple Home Collection, a family of smart-home accessories created in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

The collection includes indoor and outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, a smart deadbolt, thermostats, and temperature and humidity sensors. Every product has been designed to work directly with the Apple Home app, Siri and the wider Apple ecosystem.

What I find most appealing is the simplicity Apple is promising. Each accessory can be added to Apple Home with a tap of an iPhone, without downloading another manufacturer’s app or creating a separate account.

For anyone who has struggled with a collection of smart-home apps, passwords and unreliable connections, that alone could make Home Collection worth considering.

A more complete Apple Smart Home

Apple Home has supported third-party accessories through HomeKit and Matter for years. Home Collection takes a more direct approach, with Apple working alongside LG and Schneider Electric to design a consistent family of recommended products.

The accessories share a clean and minimal appearance intended to complement Apple’s existing devices. More importantly, they provide the same setup and control experience across the entire collection.

Each product can work independently, but the real benefit appears when several devices are connected. Cameras, locks, thermostats and HomePods can operate together through automations and scenes.

For example, leaving home could automatically lock the door, activate the cameras and adjust the thermostat. As you return, the temperature could begin changing before you arrive, while the front door unlocks automatically as you approach.

Four new LG security cameras

LG has created four cameras for Apple Home Collection: a video doorbell, a floodlight camera, an outdoor camera and an indoor camera.

Each model records video at up to 2.5K resolution and can recognise people, familiar faces, pets, vehicles and packages when used with a compatible Apple home hub and iCloud+ plan.

Compatible hubs include Apple HomeView, HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K.

Camera recordings are stored through HomeKit Secure Video. Users receive ten days of encrypted event history through a supported iCloud+ plan, eliminating the need for a separate LG camera subscription.

Built-in storage allows the cameras to continue recording when Wi-Fi is unavailable. Once the connection returns, captured events can still be reviewed instead of being lost during the outage.

Live video and recent activity can be viewed through the Home app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, as well as on Apple TV 4K and HomeView.

LG Video Doorbell

LG’s Video Doorbell uses two separate cameras to provide a clearer view of both visitors and packages.

The main front-facing camera records at 2.5K resolution, while a second Full HD camera points down towards the doorstep. Users can switch between the two views inside the Home app.

A built-in spotlight improves visibility around the entrance. When someone presses the doorbell, its chime can play through HomeView, HomePod and HomePod mini speakers.

Notifications also appear on connected Apple devices, allowing users to see and speak with visitors even when they are away from home.

LG Video Doorbell specifications

• Dual-camera design

• 2.5K front-facing camera

• Full HD package camera

• Separate visitor and package views

• Built-in spotlight

• Familiar-face recognition

• People, pet, vehicle and package detection

• Chime support through HomeView and HomePod

• Ten days of encrypted event history with an eligible iCloud+ plan

• Built-in storage for recording during Wi-Fi outages

• Available in Essence Silver and Essence Graphite

LG Floodlight Cam

The Floodlight Cam combines an outdoor security camera with two adaptive floodlights.

The lights activate automatically after detecting movement, illuminating the surrounding area while the camera records what is happening.

Low-light colour night vision is designed to preserve more detail and colour after dark than a conventional monochrome infrared image.

LG Floodlight Cam specifications

• Outdoor security camera

• Video capture at up to 2.5K resolution

• Adaptive dual floodlights

• Automatic motion activation

• Low-light colour night vision

• People, pet, vehicle and package recognition

• HomeKit Secure Video support

• Built-in storage for network outages

• Available in Essence Silver and Essence Graphite

LG Outdoor Cam

The Outdoor Cam provides a simpler alternative for locations that do not require floodlights.

Its adjustable design allows users to angle the camera towards a driveway, garden, side entrance or another area around the home. Apple says it has been designed for straightforward self-installation.

LG Outdoor Cam specifications

• Outdoor camera

• Video capture at up to 2.5K resolution

• Adjustable viewing angle

• Low-light colour night vision

• People, pet, vehicle and package recognition

• HomeKit Secure Video support

• Designed for self-installation

• Built-in storage for Wi-Fi outages

• Available in Essence Silver and Essence Graphite

LG Indoor Cam

The Indoor Cam includes a particularly thoughtful privacy feature.

When users want to check their home remotely, the camera can tilt upwards to begin monitoring. It automatically points down again when the first household member returns, making it visually obvious that the room is no longer being watched.

The camera angle can also be adjusted manually or through the Home app.

This physical movement provides more reassurance than a small status light because everyone in the room can immediately see whether the camera is active.

LG Indoor Cam specifications

• Indoor security camera

• Video capture at up to 2.5K resolution

• Motorised tilt adjustment

• Remote camera movement through the Home app

• Automatically tilts down when someone returns home

• People, familiar-face and pet recognition

• HomeKit Secure Video support

• Built-in storage for connection outages

• Available in Essence White

Apple Intelligence Can Describe Camera Events

On eligible iCloud+ plans, Apple Intelligence can generate short descriptions explaining what happened in recorded camera footage.

Instead of watching several clips to find a particular event, users can search their history with natural phrases. You might search for a delivery at the front door or a particular vehicle arriving outside.

Camera footage is processed locally by the home hub or through Private Cloud Compute. Apple says recordings and personal Home data remain end-to-end encrypted.

LG Smart Deadbolt Lock

LG’s Smart Deadbolt Lock uses Ultra Wideband technology to recognise when an authorised user is approaching the door.

A compatible iPhone or Apple Watch can automatically unlock the door without being removed from a pocket or raised towards the lock.

Several backup entry methods are also available. Users can tap an iPhone or Apple Watch, enter a code on the integrated keypad or use a traditional key through a concealed key slot.

The lock can determine whether the door is open, closed or has potentially been tampered with. It can even warn users when the deadbolt is locked while the door itself remains open.

Temporary or ongoing access can be shared through the Home app with visitors, family members, dog walkers or house sitters.

LG Smart Deadbolt Lock specifications

• Ultra Wideband proximity detection

• Automatic unlocking with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch

• Tap-to-unlock support

• Integrated PIN keypad

• Hidden physical backup key slot

• Door-open and door-closed detection

• Tamper alerts

• Guest access through the Home app

• Matter compatibility

• Aliro support

• Local operation for essential access features

• Works without an active internet connection

• Available in Essence Silver and Essence Graphite

The Doorbell and Lock work together

The LG Video Doorbell and Smart Deadbolt can operate as one connected entrance system.

When someone rings the bell, users can view the visitor, speak to them and unlock the door from the same Home app screen. Siri can also be used to control the lock with an appropriate authentication method.

This type of integration is where Apple Home Collection begins to feel more valuable than a collection of unrelated accessories. The products are designed to communicate with each other instead of requiring users to jump between different apps.

Smart thermostats from LG and Schneider Electric

Apple Home Collection will offer two smart thermostats: one made by LG and another from Schneider Electric.

Customers can choose the model that best suits their home’s heating and cooling system. Both are designed for do-it-yourself installation and support a broad range of HVAC equipment.

On-device wire detection helps identify the existing connections during installation.

A feature called Adaptive Temperature uses intelligence from the user’s iPhone to adjust heating or cooling according to whether someone is home, preparing for bed or away. This removes the need to create a complicated manual schedule.

Smart Thermostat specifications

• Models from LG Electronics and Schneider Electric

• Support for a wide range of HVAC systems

• Adaptive Temperature automation

• Home, nighttime and away adjustments

• On-device wire detection

• Do-it-yourself installation

• Apple Home app control

• Siri voice control

• Matter compatibility

• Support for separate room sensors

• Temperature and humidity monitoring

• Energy-usage insights through the Home app

In supported areas of the United States, Clean Energy Guidance can shift heating and cooling towards periods when electricity is cleaner or less expensive. Compatible utility customers can also view peak and off-peak energy information.

Apple Home Collection: Key Features

• Indoor and outdoor security cameras

• Dual-camera video doorbell

• Smart floodlight camera

• Ultra Wideband smart deadbolt

• Smart thermostats from LG and Schneider Electric

• Separate temperature and humidity sensors

• One-tap setup with iPhone

• No manufacturer account required

• No separate control application required

• Complete control through Apple Home

• Siri voice commands

• Matter compatibility on supported products

• Thread connectivity across the collection

• Automatic Wi-Fi credential updates

• HomeKit Secure Video support

• Ten days of encrypted camera-event history with eligible iCloud+ plans

• Apple Intelligence video descriptions

• Natural-language camera-history search

• Local operation for essential door-lock functions

• End-to-end encryption

My Take

Apple Home Collection could be a major step forward for anyone who likes the idea of a smart home but dislikes the complexity that usually comes with building one.

The LG Indoor Cam is the product that stands out most to me. Having the lens physically tilt down when someone returns provides a clear and reassuring indication that the camera is no longer monitoring the room.

The Smart Deadbolt is for me another highlight. Automatic Ultra Wideband unlocking, guest access, a PIN pad and a concealed backup key offer a good balance between convenience and practicality. Local operation also means essential access features should continue working when the internet is unavailable.

I also appreciate MATTER support. Matter support means compatible products can work more broadly, while Apple Home users receive deeper integration, encryption and automation.

Are you already use Apple Home accessories and are you planning to do?

Want more iPhone tips?
I share new iOS guides, hidden features, and practical iPhone tips every week. Subscribe to my FREE newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.

Newsletter

Subscribe now for Apple news and exclusive content.