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Apple announced Apple Home Collection, a new range of smart home devices developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The products are designed for setup and management through Apple Home without separate manufacturer apps or accounts, and all support Thread; selected devices also support Matter and the smart-lock standard Aliro. Availability starts in December, with some products scheduled for early 2027.
Apple has announced Apple Home Collection, a new range of smart home accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, with products including cameras, climate controls, sensors, a video doorbell and a smart lock. Apple says the devices will be set up from an iPhone and managed through the Home app, without requiring a separate manufacturer app or account; availability begins in December, with selected products arriving in early 2027.
The collection marks a closer role for Apple in the development of compatible home hardware. Apple says it worked directly with the two manufacturers on the devices and their integration, rather than limiting its role to supporting or certifying products made independently. The company describes the range as a way to make compatible accessories easier to choose and to provide a consistent experience in Apple Home.
All products in the range support Thread, Apple says. The Smart Deadbolt Lock, thermostats, and temperature and humidity sensors are specifically described as Matter compatible. The lock also supports Aliro, alongside Ultra Wideband and Apple home key. Apple says Thread can help devices maintain connectivity if Wi-Fi becomes unavailable and can let them update network credentials automatically after a home Wi-Fi change.
LG’s products include four cameras and a video doorbell. The cameras record at up to 2.5K resolution and are described as able to recognise people, familiar faces, pets, vehicles and packages. The doorbell uses two cameras to show visitors and packages separately. Apple says compatible camera events can be stored in iCloud+, with up to 10 days of event video history; some event descriptions and natural-language footage searches are available on eligible iCloud+ plans. The collection also includes Schneider Electric’s Smart Thermostat and other climate and energy-related products.
A More Direct Apple Home Strategy
The announcement could make Apple Home easier to use for people who want connected devices without managing multiple vendor apps and accounts. A common setup and control path through the Home app may reduce friction when adding accessories, while the collection lets Apple shape more of the experience from device design through software integration. Those are intended benefits described by Apple; how smoothly the products work in practice will depend on their performance after release.
Support for Thread across the range gives the products a shared networking foundation, while Matter compatibility on specified devices may help them work with other Matter-enabled systems. The lock’s Aliro and Ultra Wideband support also puts emphasis on access methods beyond a conventional keypad or tap-to-unlock interaction. The announcement does not establish that every feature will be available in every market or with every Apple device, so buyers will need to check product requirements when detailed specifications are published.
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From HomeKit Support to Joint Design
Apple has long offered the Home app and HomeKit framework for controlling third-party accessories, and later added support for the Matter smart home standard. In that model, outside manufacturers generally made the hardware, with Apple providing a platform for compatible devices. The company says Apple Home Collection differs because it worked directly with LG and Schneider Electric on product development and Home app integration.
The collection combines products from two partners with different areas of focus: LG is responsible for cameras, the video doorbell and smart lock, while Schneider Electric’s contribution centres on climate control and energy management. Apple vice president of Hardware Engineering Matthew Costello said the collection is intended to make compatible accessories easier to select and provide a consistent Apple Home experience. The companies have not yet supplied all product-level details in the source report.
“The aim of Apple Home Collection is to make choosing compatible smart home accessories easier, while providing a consistent experience across Apple Home.”
— Matthew Costello, Apple vice president of Hardware Engineering
Thread and Matter smart home sensors
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Product Details Still to Come
The announcement does not provide complete pricing, regional availability or exact release dates for each device. It says availability begins in December and that selected products will arrive in early 2027, but does not identify which products belong to each release window. The source report also does not give a full list of supported iPhone, Apple Watch or Apple Home hub models, or specify the iCloud+ plans required for each camera feature.
It is also not yet clear how the products will perform outside Apple Home or which features will work with third-party platforms. Matter compatibility is stated for selected products, not every item in the range, and Apple has not detailed the practical limits of the lock’s Aliro and Ultra Wideband functions. Claims about connectivity, privacy and ease of use are based on Apple’s descriptions; independent testing and user experience are not yet available.
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December Launch and Early 2027
Apple says the first products will become available in December, followed by selected devices in early 2027. Further information on prices, individual launch dates, product specifications and compatibility will be needed before buyers can compare the collection with existing accessories. Prospective customers should look for Apple’s product pages and retailer listings for the confirmed release schedule and requirements.
After launch, the key test will be whether the devices deliver the promised unified setup and control while remaining dependable across different home networks and Apple Home configurations. Reviews and product documentation should clarify which features depend on an iCloud+ subscription, a compatible hub or a particular phone or watch, and how the collection’s Matter and Aliro support works with other smart home equipment.
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Key Questions
What is Apple Home Collection?
It is a new range of smart home accessories developed by Apple with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The announced categories include cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock, thermostats and temperature sensors.
When will the devices be available?
Apple says availability starts in December, with selected products coming in early 2027. The announcement does not identify the exact release date for each device.
Do all products support Matter?
No. Apple says every product supports Thread, but explicitly describes the smart lock, thermostats, and temperature and humidity sensors as Matter compatible. It has not said that every item supports Matter.
Will users need LG or Schneider Electric apps?
Apple says the products can be set up from an iPhone and managed through Apple Home, with no separate manufacturer app or account required. Full setup requirements and feature limits have not yet been detailed.
What does the smart lock support?
The announced Smart Deadbolt Lock supports Matter, Thread, Aliro, Ultra Wideband and Apple home key. Apple also describes keypad and physical-key access, but detailed compatibility requirements and availability information remain pending.
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