The big picture: Apple today unveiled a range of smart home hardware powered by Siri AI and Apple Intelligence at its Welcome Home event in New York City. The products signal the company’s newfound focus on the smart home segment after spending years largely on the fringes of a market dominated by Google, Amazon and Samsung. and many other specialized providers.
The Apple Home Collection is a range of smart home devices developed in collaboration with LG and Schneider Electric, including multiple cameras with full iCloud+ integration, as well as thermostats, a doorbell and a door lock. Apple also introduced the second-generation HomePod mini, a new Apple TV 4K, and the HomeView smart home display and hub.
LG’s camera range includes both indoor and outdoor models, starting with the Floodlight Cam, which combines two floodlights with motion detection for perimeter surveillance. The lights turn on automatically when motion is detected, and a color night vision mode helps capture clear shots even in low-light conditions.
The other two cameras are the Outdoor Cam and the Indoor Cam. The former offers the same color night vision in low light conditions, but without floodlights. The latter can automatically tilt up and down to adjust its view as users check in to their home. It can also be tilted manually or via the Home app on iPhone.
Apple also announced two new smart thermostats, one from LG and one from Schneider Electric. Both can be controlled via the Home app on iPhone, and both can automatically adjust temperatures based on whether someone is home using intelligence on the device. Both work with a variety of HVAC systems.
Next comes the Wired Video Doorbell, which uses two cameras to capture separate views of visitors and packages. The front camera records in 2.5K, while the bottom camera supports Full HD. It also features a built-in spotlight and a bell that plays across HomeView, HomePod and HomePod mini.
With Smart Deadbolt Lock, LG uses Ultra Wideband technology to detect the approach of someone carrying a Home Key on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch and automatically unlocks the door without the need for a tap or password.
In the US, the LG Video Doorbell Wired and Smart Deadbolt Lock start at $230 and $350 respectively, while the Floodlight Cam starts at $400. The outdoor cam plug-in starts at $300 and the indoor cam plug-in starts at $200. Both thermostats start at $200, and the LG Temperature Sensor and Schneider Home Room Sensor each start at $40.
The Apple Home Collection will be released in December, with select accessories following in early 2027. The doorbell and cameras will be sold in the US, Canada and UK, while the lock and thermostats will be limited to the US and Canada at launch.
Finally, Apple announced the HomePod mini 2, whose support for Siri AI will be available in a future software update. Powered by the S10 chip, the second-generation speaker improves on its predecessor with better audio quality and surround sound with four speakers when paired with the new Apple TV 4K and either four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers. It’s priced at $149 (versus $99 for the original) and is available for pre-order today. In-store availability begins Friday, October 30th.
