Apple Just Launched Its Own Line Of Smart Home Cameras, Locks And Thermostats

Apple is getting into the smart home business with cameras, a doorbell, a door lock and thermostats. The new Apple Home Collection starts at $39.95 and goes up to $399.95, and most of it arrives in December.

If you already use an iPhone, this matters. Apple worked with LG and Schneider Electric to build gadgets that set up with one tap and work together with its new HomeView screen. That could make a smart home simpler to run.

What’s in the Apple Home Collection

LG makes most of the lineup. Here are the US prices:

• LG Video Doorbell: $249.95
• LG Floodlight Cam: $399.95
• LG Outdoor Cam: $299.95
• LG Indoor Cam: $199.95
• LG Smart Deadbolt Lock: $349.95
• LG Smart Thermostat: $199.95
• Schneider Home Smart Thermostat: $199.95
• Temperature sensors: $39.95 each

The cameras and doorbell are sold in the US, Canada and the UK. The lock, thermostats and sensors are sold in the US and Canada only. Most products arrive in December at Apple Stores and Apple’s website. A few items will not arrive until early 2027.

So, what can you expect from these smart home devices? The names are pretty much a giveaway already. For starters, the cameras can tell the difference between a person, a pet, a car and a package.

That means your phone can tell you “package at the door” instead of just “motion detected.” Video quality goes up to 2.5K, which is sharper than standard HD. Each camera also has its own built-in storage, so it keeps recording even if your Wi-Fi goes down. When the internet comes back, the footage is there.

As for the smart lock, it uses a short-range wireless technology called Ultra Wideband to sense when you’re walking up to the door. It can unlock for you as you arrive, so you don’t have to dig out your keys. It can also tell whether the door is open or closed. Apple says it works locally, so it doesn’t need the internet to do its job.

What you’ll need

You’ll need an iPhone to set everything up. Some features also need a home hub, which can be HomeView, a HomePod or an Apple TV 4K.

The cameras also need a paid iCloud+ plan if you want to keep 10 days of video history. Apple also offers professional installation by ADT at its U.S. stores for an extra fee.

Not everything will work beyond Apple’s world. The cameras and doorbell use Apple’s own video system, so they only work with Apple products. Apple says the lock and thermostats support Matter, a standard that lets gadgets from different brands work together. That should give them a better chance of working with other systems.

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