Apple and LG Team Up on Smart-Home Devices as Apple Targets a Bigger Role in Connected Homes

Apple is reportedly working with LG Electronics to expand its presence in the smart-home market, marking one of its biggest attempts yet to build a more complete connected-home ecosystem.

The companies are said to be developing a range of devices including a video doorbell, smart deadbolt lock, thermostat, temperature sensor and indoor and outdoor security cameras. The products will carry the LG brand, while Apple is reportedly involved in their design, features and engineering. LG is expected to handle manufacturing and customer support.

The partnership comes as Apple prepares to introduce a new smart-home hub on October 13. The hub is expected to serve as a central control point for connected devices, potentially giving Apple a stronger position against established platforms such as Amazon's Ring and Google's Nest. The reported LG devices are expected to work with standards including Matter and Thread, which are designed to make smart-home products from different manufacturers easier to connect.

For Apple, working with LG could solve one of the biggest challenges in expanding its smart-home business: building a broad range of hardware without having to manufacture every product itself. For LG, the arrangement provides an opportunity to place its hardware deeper inside Apple's premium ecosystem.

The reported collaboration also signals a broader change in Apple's strategy. Rather than relying mainly on third-party accessories for HomeKit, the company appears to be moving toward a more tightly integrated smart-home experience.

Neither company has formally confirmed the reported partnership. The LG-made accessories are reportedly still several months away from reaching consumers, meaning the October 13 event may reveal Apple's direction before the full product range arrives.