Apple's smart home initiative extends beyond its own hardware. The company is also collaborating with LG to develop products such as doorbells, smart locks, cameras, and thermostats, aiming to quickly strengthen its home security and device control capabilities. In response to Amazon and Google's mature product ecosystems, Apple is launching a more systematic effort to catch up.
Apple (AAPL.O) will hold a product launch event in New York on Tuesday, October 13 (local time), officially introducing its next generation of home devices centered on artificial intelligence.
According to reports, the flagship product at this launch event is a smart home hub with a display, alongside the upgraded HomePod mini smart speaker and the Apple TV 4K set-top box.
According to foreign media, Apple confirmed last Thursday the schedule for its event, themed "Welcome Home." The new products will feature fully integrated, upgraded Siri AI capabilities, forming a key part of Apple's strategy to expand its smart home business and compete with Amazon and Google.
This is a significant product launch since John Ternus took over as Apple’s CEO on September 1. Apple views smart home as a potential new growth area, but its previously released HomePod lineup and HomeKit platform have yet to achieve market influence comparable to its smartphone and personal computer businesses.
The smart home hub will recognize family members to enable personalized interactions.
According to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, Apple’s upcoming smart home hub is internally codenamed J490 and J491, featuring a approximately 6-inch square display, with versions available for desktop placement and wall mounting.
The core feature of the product is identifying different family members and automatically adjusting the screen content based on the user’s identity. The device can recognize faces using its built-in camera or identify users through voice recognition, then display their personalized calendar, contacts, messages, notes, and preferred app layouts.
When another registered family member approaches the device, the interface automatically switches. The device also features a guest mode to hide private information. Due to its facial recognition system being less reliable than Face ID on iPhone, users can choose to perform additional authentication via their iPhone.
This hub will also handle home device control and daily communication tasks. Users can use voice commands to operate connected devices such as thermostats and smart locks, make FaceTime video calls, play music, or view photos stored in iCloud.
Apple plans to pre-install commonly used apps such as Calendar, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, Notes, Reminders, Music, and Podcasts on its devices. Its operating system integrates interface elements from iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, and offers features like Clock, photo slideshows, and interactive widgets.
On the hardware side, the desktop version features a display connected to a metal base, allowing users to manually adjust the screen tilt angle. The device is equipped with a front-facing camera, microphone, and speakers, and is continuously powered via a USB-C port, with no built-in battery.
In addition to the new hub, Apple plans to launch its first updated HomePod mini since 2020 and its first new Apple TV set-top box since 2022. Both devices will retain their current designs but feature more powerful processors to support upgraded Siri AI features.
Partnering with LG to expand product offerings and enter the home security market
Apple's recent smart home initiative also includes collaborating with South Korea's LG Electronics to develop a range of complementary devices.
According to foreign media, the products resulting from this collaboration include video doorbells, smart locks, thermostats, indoor and outdoor security cameras, floodlight cameras, and temperature sensors. These devices will connect with Apple’s HomeKit hub and other home devices to form a more comprehensive ecosystem.
According to insiders, although the equipment was jointly developed by Apple and LG, it will be sold under the LG brand, with LG responsible for manufacturing and after-sales service. Apple will be involved in product design, feature planning, and engineering development.
This partnership allows Apple to rapidly expand its range of smart home devices without directly bearing all manufacturing and after-sales costs.
LG has recently submitted certification applications to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and product certification body UL Solutions for certain products. The related documents disclose device names, some technical specifications, and design information, but do not mention Apple's involvement.
Some devices will be compatible with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and smart home communication protocols such as Thread and Matter. Among them, smart locks will also use ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to automatically unlock when users approach the door.
However, the development of LG’s companion products has lagged behind Apple’s own devices. Sources expect these products to be at least several months away from reaching consumers. Both Apple and LG have previously declined to comment on their collaboration.
The new Siri becomes a key product upgrade as Apple expands its smart home market strategy.
Apple's latest product updates are closely tied to its artificial intelligence strategy. Previously, the development of the upgraded Siri was delayed multiple times, causing delays in the release of smart home devices.
Apple initially planned to launch its first smart home display device in 2024, alongside updates to the HomePod mini and Apple TV, but the release schedule for these hardware products has been delayed due to the new Siri not being completed on time.
The new version of Siri uses large language model technology to understand commands by integrating user personal information and perform more complex device and app operations. Apple aims to enhance the interaction experience with smart home devices, particularly personalized services in households with multiple members.
In the smart home market, Amazon has established a product ecosystem including Echo smart displays, Ring doorbells, and cameras, while Google offers Nest smart home devices. Apple launched the HomeKit platform in 2014, followed by the HomePod in 2018 and the HomePod mini in 2020, but its smart home business has consistently had relatively limited market performance.
Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani previously stated that Apple’s introduction of a smart home hub could be a crucial step in extending Siri’s AI capabilities from the iPhone into the home environment; whether the new product increases user engagement with Apple’s ecosystem will be key to evaluating the real-world value of its AI features.
Apple is still developing subsequent smart home products, including privacy-focused home monitoring devices and an upgraded smart hub featuring a approximately 9-inch display that can adjust its orientation via a mechanical arm. According to prior disclosures by foreign media, these products are still in development and have not been confirmed for inclusion in this event's announced product lineup.