An entirely new category of "second-party" Apple Home accessories could be on the way with LG and Schneider as the starting partners. A rumor of an unusual partnership between LG and Apple surfaced Tuesday with multiple leaks showing images of said products on Wednesday. Additional information has surfaced that suggests this is a partnership beyond just LG.
According to a post from code sleuth pdfu, a "second-party" partnership table shows ten individual products from both LG and Schneider. These products get special features like NFC pairing and an animation during setup. Given the nature of the leak and the presence of the information in a second-party database, there is a chance this means Apple has multiple partners making accessories.
Second party implies that they're made with special connections to Apple Home, but not made directly by Apple. The LG accessories include a Smart Thermostat, Smart Deadbolt Lock, and Temperature/Humidity Sensor. The Schneider accessories include Thermostat TP, Thermostat QA variant, and Temperature/Humidity Sensor.
While the existence of a second brand doesn't indicate anything just yet, it does hint at a larger initiative Apple could announce during its Apple Home-focused October 13 event. Rumors suggest LG's accessories won't be available until early 2027, so this is just the start of a larger partnership.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing