Apple has unveiled the Apple Home Collection, a lineup of smart home accessories designed in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Alongside the new Home View smart display and updated Apple TV and HomePod mini, the company is positioning the collection as a complete ecosystem. The devices are not repurposed existing products. They were designed with Apple to be reliable, private and easy to set up.
Most of the collection is built by LG and includes an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, a door lock, a video doorbell and a thermostat. Schneider Electric contributes a thermostat. The indoor camera helps you keep an eye on belongings or pets while you're away, while the outdoor camera can recognize faces, pets and deliveries. Its floodlight activates gradually when motion is detected, and video history is saved to your existing iCloud+ storage. The video doorbell alerts you through HomePod, adds a downward-facing camera for packages on the floor, and includes a night light.
The LG door lock uses ultra-wideband to sense an iPhone or Apple Watch and unlocks as you approach, so you don't need to reach for a key. A nine-digit keypad provides a backup pin code. Both the LG and Schneider thermostats adjust home temperature throughout the day to help save energy. Setup follows the same process as other Apple accessories: bring your iPhone close to the device and follow the on-screen prompts in the Home app.
Privacy is a central focus. The devices are managed through Apple products, and communication is end-to-end encrypted. Apart from the cameras, which rely on Apple's own local buffering and encrypted uploads, the devices work with other Matter-compatible platforms. Pricing is $199 for the indoor camera and thermostat, $329 for the outdoor camera ($399 with floodlight), $249 for the door lock and $349 for the video doorbell. The collection will be available in the US and Canada.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing