Apple is no longer content to simply have a place in your pocket. The company now appears to be setting its sights on something much bigger: your home.
Apple is reportedly working with LG on a new generation of smart home products that could bring security, temperature control and other household functions deeper into the Apple ecosystem.
If the plans materialize, the move could mark a major expansion of Apple's presence in the smart home market.
Apple and LG Are Building a Bigger Smart Home Lineup
The reported partnership covers a wide range of devices rather than a single new product.
The lineup is expected to include a video doorbell, smart deadbolt lock, thermostat, temperature sensor, indoor security camera, outdoor security camera and floodlight camera.
The products are expected to carry LG branding, with LG handling manufacturing and customer support while Apple is reportedly involved in their development and integration with its wider ecosystem.
Several devices are also expected to support Matter and Thread, technologies that help compatible smart home products communicate across different manufacturers.
The reported smart lock could go a step further with ultra-wideband, or UWB. The technology can determine the distance between compatible devices with high precision, potentially allowing the lock to recognize an authorized device as it approaches the door.
The result would give Apple a much broader collection of hardware for areas such as home security, access and temperature control.
A New Apple Hub Could Become the Center
The reported devices are expected to work with a new Apple smart home hub that could become the central control point for the ecosystem.
The hub is expected to feature a display of roughly six inches and could be placed on a countertop or mounted on a wall.
Instead of relying on separate controls for different devices, users could potentially use the hub to manage compatible cameras, thermostats, locks and other smart home products from one place.
Apple is expected to unveil the hub on October 13.
The LG devices, however, are reportedly not arriving at the same time. They are expected to reach consumers several months later as development and regulatory processes continue.
Apple and LG have not officially confirmed the complete product lineup, pricing or release dates.
The Bigger Battle for the Connected Home
Apple has supported smart home products for years, but Amazon and Google have built much larger hardware ecosystems around their platforms.
Amazon has Ring cameras and doorbells, while Google has its Nest lineup covering products such as cameras and thermostats. Samsung is also competing through SmartThings, which connects compatible appliances and other smart home devices.
Apple's potential advantage is the ecosystem people already carry with them.
The iPhone, Apple Watch and Siri could become part of a wider system connecting the home, while LG brings its experience in home electronics and large-scale hardware production.
That combination could allow Apple to expand into more areas of the smart home without having to manufacture every category itself.
For Apple, the bigger goal appears to be more than selling a new hub or a collection of accessories.
It is about making the home another major part of the Apple ecosystem.
And if the reported plans become reality, LG could provide the hardware foundation Apple needs to compete more directly in the connected-home market.
