Apple Home Collection: LG may build affordable smart home gear for Apple
According to reports from Bloomberg, Apple aims to supply its new smart home ecosystem with a variety of hardware directly, rather than waiting for third-party manufacturers to catch up. To achieve this, the company is reportedly collaborating with LG to bring a suite of connected devices to market under the name Apple Home Collection.
LG Partnership and Product Lineup
The collaboration with LG is expected to focus on affordability. By leveraging LG's manufacturing capabilities, Apple could offer products at a lower price point than if they were developed entirely in-house with standard Apple margins. The rumored lineup includes:
- smart door locks;
- thermostats and temperature sensors;
- video doorbells;
- security cameras (indoor, outdoor, and floodlight models).
Under this arrangement, LG would handle the manufacturing and customer support, while Apple would provide oversight and ensure seamless integration into its software environment.
Connectivity and Standards
A major selling point for these devices is their deep integration with Apple's ecosystem, which is expected to include a system dubbed HomeView. While the hardware will rely on open standards like Matter and Thread, the primary advantage will be the optimized performance of the proprietary "Siri" AI. Most devices are expected to support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Matter, with door locks potentially featuring Ultra Wideband (UWB) support for enhanced precision.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly working with Schneider Electric to target the European market. This partnership could introduce smart plugs and energy meters, though specific details regarding these products remain unconfirmed.
Availability
Shipments for the Apple Home Collection are expected to begin no earlier than later this year. While this makes an announcement at the upcoming "Welcome home" event unlikely, the existence of such a partnership could significantly increase the scale and impact of Apple's broader smart home ecosystem rollout.
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