Sources: Apple's smart home push includes a doorbell, a thermostat, a deadbolt, security cameras, and accessories developed with LG that will carry the LG brand

Apple Inc.'s upcoming push into smart home devices will include a doorbell, thermostat and other accessories developed through an unusual partnership with LG Electronics Inc.

Bloomberg 2026-10-07 Mark Gurman

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple’s home effort has moved through several models: HomeKit bundles with homebuilders in 2016, a dedicated smart-home team in 2019, and a reported doorbell project tied to third-party locks in 2024. The reported LG arrangement would turn that longer-running work into a partner-led accessory lineup rather than an Apple-branded hardware range.

A companion report says LG would handle manufacturing and product support, while the devices would use LG branding. That division makes LG the visible hardware and service counterpart for an Apple-led home ecosystem.

First-order effects

LG would reportedly assume manufacturing, product-support, and brand responsibilities for the planned accessories, giving it the direct customer-facing role in the lineup.
Apple would extend its smart-home ecosystem through LG-branded hardware rather than placing its own brand on the doorbell, thermostat, and related devices.

Second-order effects

The arrangement would make LG’s execution on support and device reliability consequential to Apple Home’s user experience, despite the products carrying LG branding.
Apple’s existing HomeKit accessory partners would face a more closely integrated LG lineup competing for placement in Apple-centric smart-home setups.

Third-order effects

If Apple continues to use partners for home hardware, its role in the category shifts toward controlling the ecosystem and integrations while manufacturers own more of the product, support, and branding burden.
The progression from builder bundles to an in-house team and a reported LG collaboration points to smart-home adoption being pursued through distribution and device partnerships, not only Apple-made products.

The trend: Apple’s reported LG collaboration is part of a shift toward ecosystem-led smart-home expansion in which hardware partners carry more of the manufacturing, support, and brand exposure.

Discussion

@twid Todd Dailey on x
Interesting. In the AI era Apple Home, Apple Shortcuts, and Apple Home Automations feel pretty dated, and Siri integration with HomeKit is wonky. I've got a Schlage HomeKey lock now, which works great for tap and unlock, but before that telling my watch to unlock the door with Si…
@andrew_osu Andrew O'Hara on x
Woah. If Apple is partnering with LG on its new Apple Home accessories, I wonder where that leaves Homey. Will these new devices support Homey too or just Apple Home?
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
Apple's Event next week is going to be nuts! My prediction (since we didn't get invites today): Monday: Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 launch with features that are destined for both (quad stereo setup) Tuesday: Apple HomePad smart device and all of the new smart accessories.
@legendaryscoop Max Buondonno on x
Holy crap - that's at least 6 new smart home products from Apple we knew nothing about. All co-developed with LG. So weird. Wonder what they'll look like. We should know everything on October 13.
@iconredesign @iconredesign on x
Apple and LG just need to bring back the UltraFine Display
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
absolutely thrilled about the idea of HomeKit-first devices but partnering with LG seems so weird lol do they even have smart home stuff?
@leakerapple @leakerapple on x
I never expected Apple to “co-develop” these sorts of products with another company. We've seen Apple sell 3rd party items (accessories) at Apple stores for years, but I don't recall a time in recent memory where Apple worked with a 3rd party to develop hardware.
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
NEW: Apple - in an unusual partnership with LG - is readying a Doorbell, Deadbolt Lock, Thermostat, Indoor Camera, Outdoor Camera, Floodlight Camera and more to rival Amazon and Google as part of its major smart home reboot. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The accessories are meant to outfit Apple's major new smart home ecosystem with the smart home hub, new HomePod mini, updated Apple TV — all with Siri AI — at the center.
@lukemiani Luke Miani on x
This is so odd but I'm here for it
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The Apple + LG security cameras are completely separate from Apple's own privacy-centric home camera/sensor, coming next year.
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The co-development strategy with LG is fairly unusual for Apple. LG also hasn't made smart home devices in a decade-plus, so this is a big return to the market for them as well.
r/apple r on reddit
[Gift article] Apple's Smart Home Push Includes Doorbell, Lock, Thermostat Codeveloped With LG
r/smarthome r on reddit
Apple's Smart Home Push Includes Doorbell, Lock, Thermostat Codeveloped With LG
@dkmitc Dylan on x
Will you replace your smart home devices if Apple releases all of these?
@gkamstra Greg on x
“Siri, unlock my front door” “Calling Mike Do”
@daniel_rubino Daniel Rubino on x
This is actually a very smart (and overdue) decision. Will create even more lockin, if that's your thing.
@nandoprince93 Fernando Silva on x
Wonder how much it's gonna cost me to Apple Smart Homeify my house 😂
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
OH HELL YES
r/HomeKit r on reddit
Please bring first-class support for LG stuff to HomeKit!!
Emil Protalinski Emil Protalinski on linkedin
Would you buy a doorbell from Apple? What about LG? — Apple's upcoming push into the smart home will reportedly include a doorbell …
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Several smart home related stocks are down on this news this morning. Among movers: Resideo -7.4%, Arlo Technologies -8.7%, https://alarm.com/ -3.8%, Johnson Controls -2.5%, Carrier Global -2.4%, Allegion-5.6%.

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