Apple teaming up with LG on smart home gear is the plot twist I didn't see coming

The Apple Home Collection was announced by Apple earlier this week featuring smart home accessories co-developed with LG. According to Mark Gurman, Bloomberg's chief Apple correspondent, in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple may eventually pivot to building its own smart home accessories. For now, it looks like selling LG-made gear is a low-risk way to get in.

As Apple is the main seller for these devices, it will be able to see exactly how they sell, and that data will decide whether Apple eventually goes all in on its own direct shot at Google's Nest and Amazon's Ring.

Why Apple is letting LG have a go at the Home Collection

Asked whether he thought Apple would eventually replace LG's accessories with its own, Gurman responded that he expects Apple will take a wait-and-see approach and analyze the precise data it will get on how these LG co-developed accessories will sell. If the demand is clear and Apple sees a big business opportunity, he absolutely expects Apple to look at this possibility.

The Apple Home Collection is a series of smart home devices made by LG, plus a thermostat and a sensor from Schneider Electric. LG's lineup includes a Video Doorbell, an Indoor Cam, an Outdoor Cam, a Floodlight Cam and a Smart Deadbolt Lock. These will be sold at Apple.com and Apple Stores starting in December (with some in early 2027).

An Apple camera that won't record

Gurman says that Apple is also working on an indoor, privacy-focused camera that is code-named J450. This camera will reportedly use AI to analyze the room it is in, recognize faces and pets, and send text descriptions instead of actually recording video. This hardware is expected in the next year or so.



Google already does the text part with the Nest Cam and Gemini. However, this capability does require a $20 a month Google Home Premium Advanced subscription that covers 60 days of event video. Ring's plans store up to 180 days of video with prices ranging from $4.99 to $19.99 a month.

Apple's LG cameras get 10 days of event video through iCloud+ (50GB plan covers one camera), a process that this upcoming J450 device would skip entirely.

For Nest and Ring owners, this doesn't affect you at all right now since nothing has shipped yet from Apple. However, once this video-less device is available, the difference would be its philosophy of not keeping footage while the competition does.

Buy the Apple Home Collection now or wait for Apple's own

For Apple users buying the Apple Home Collection LG gear in December, it should be noted that they will be, in effect, the test group. However, if you are privacy-conscious when it comes to video footage, Apple's upcoming J450 is an option that may be worth waiting for.

The Apple smart home team-up I wasn't expecting

I think Apple combining forces with LG was a smart, low-risk way into a market that Apple was obviously late to. The bigger test will fall on the J450 and whether people will trust an AI camera that keeps no video. I'm curious how people will respond, and I hope that Apple continues its privacy-first approach when it comes to home cameras.

More on Apple's smart home push:

• Apple's $299 HomeView smart display
• Read our iPhone 18 Pro Max review
• Apple iPhone 18 Pro

• Follow me on X and Threads

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