Alongside the debut of the HomeView smart display, updated Apple TV, and HomePod mini 2, Apple has announced the “Apple Home Collection”, a purpose-built hardware ecosystem designed in direct collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Rather than simply rebadging existing third-party accessories under a certification badge, Apple worked alongside both manufacturers to engineer home security cameras, video doorbells, smart locks, and environmental sensors built specifically for security, privacy, and frictionless setup.
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The bulk of the initial launch lineup is manufactured by LG, featuring an indoor security camera, an outdoor camera, a video doorbell, a smart door lock, and a connected thermostat. Schneider Electric contributes a secondary thermostat option designed for European and international energy management standards.
Each device prioritizes clean, minimalist industrial design while introducing advanced hardware features:
- Outdoor Camera with Smart Floodlight: Equipped with on-device intelligence to differentiate between faces, pets, and package deliveries. The floodlight variant gradually increases luminescence upon detecting movement to prevent harsh glare. Video history is automatically processed locally and saved using existing iCloud+ storage tiers.
- Dual-Camera Video Doorbell: Features a primary front-facing lens paired with a downward-pointing sensor dedicated to tracking packages left at the entryway. Incoming visitors trigger ambient chimes across connected HomePod speakers throughout the home, supplemented by an integrated night light.
- UWB-Enabled Smart Door Lock: Leverages Ultra-Wideband (UWB) proximity sensing via an iPhone or Apple Watch to automatically unlock as the owner approaches, eliminating the need to physically tap a sensor or locate a key. A fallback nine-digit physical keypad handles manual PIN entry.
- Climate Control and Energy Sensors: Thermostats from both LG and Schneider Electric automatically adjust home heating and cooling schedules based on occupancy and time-of-day tariffs to optimize energy efficiency.
Device setup mimics the pairing experience of AirPods or HomePod speakers. Bringing an iPhone in close proximity to an unconfigured accessory triggers an instant pop-up pairing card, guiding the user through a multi-step installation process that links the hardware directly to the Apple Home app.
In keeping with Apple’s privacy architecture, communications across the collection are protected with end-to-end encryption. However, cross-platform support varies by product category:
- Matter Protocol Interoperability: Non-camera hardware, including smart locks, thermostats, and environmental sensors, is fully compatible with the Matter smart home standard, allowing control via third-party ecosystems like Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
- Apple-Exclusive Camera Ecosystem: Due to proprietary local video buffering and encrypted stream uploads, the indoor camera, outdoor camera, and video doorbell operate exclusively within the Apple ecosystem.
Pricing for the Apple Home Collection starts at $199 (approx. R3,500) for indoor cameras and thermostats. The UWB smart door lock is priced at $249 (approx. R4,380), while the video doorbell will retail for $349 (approx. R6,140). The outdoor security camera starts at $329 (approx. R5,780), increasing to $399 (approx. R7,000) for the integrated floodlight model.
Initial retail availability begins in December via the Apple Store in the US and Canada, with security camera hardware expanding to the UK simultaneously. Broader international availability and local South African retail distribution via authorized Apple channels are expected in early 2027.
