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Apple has launched the Apple Home Collection, a lineup of smart home products co-developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, alongside its first smart display, HomeView. Apple says Matter, AI-powered Siri and simpler setup make the move possible now; the lineup also gives customers a curated option while the company says third-party devices will remain supported.
Apple has launched the Apple Home Collection, a lineup of smart home devices co-developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, alongside HomeView, its first smart display. The move gives Apple customers a company-selected set of cameras, thermostats, sensors, a smart lock and a video doorbell, addressing a longstanding gap in a Home ecosystem that had depended on products from other brands.
The launch marks a change in Apple’s approach after more than a decade of asking other companies to make devices for its smart home platform. The collection is intended to work through Apple Home, with setup designed to avoid separate manufacturer apps and accounts. Apple says the products offer one-tap setup and end-to-end encrypted data, which it says means only the user can access that data.
Apple vice president of product marketing for home Kaiann Drance told The Verge that two developments helped make the launch possible: the Matter interoperability standard and advances in AI that support a more conversational Siri. “With the magic of Siri AI, it comes together in a way that we haven’t been able to deliver before,” Drance said. She described those technologies as a key part of bringing HomeView and Apple’s smart home products together.
The products do not all use the same standards. The lock, thermostats and sensors support Matter, and the lineup’s devices support Thread, according to The Verge. The lock also supports Aliro and works locally. The cameras instead use Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, rather than Matter. The source report says the devices start at $200; it does not provide a full item-by-item price list in the supplied material.
A Curated Route Into Apple Home
The launch matters because it gives Apple a more direct way to introduce customers to connected-home devices. Until now, Apple Home users generally had to choose among third-party products and work out which would suit their setup. The collection offers a shorter, Apple-selected list, which could make those decisions feel simpler for customers who trust the company’s products and services.
That approach also gives Apple a possible gateway strategy: someone buying HomeView for music, recipes or calendars may be more inclined to add a camera, lock or sensor that is presented as part of the same system. Drance told The Verge that Apple sees users discovering the value of smart devices after trying one. That is the company’s rationale, not evidence that HomeView or the collection will increase adoption.
There are practical barriers beyond product choice. The Verge cited research from Parks Associates finding that consumers may question the value of smart devices, while also expressing concerns about privacy, security, complexity and cost. Apple’s pitch addresses ease of setup and privacy, but the reported starting price of $200 does not address cost concerns. The launch therefore tests whether Apple’s brand, integration and curated range can make the category more accessible to its customers.
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From HomeKit to HomeView
Apple launched HomeKit in 2014, but its smart home ecosystem continued to rely on compatible hardware from outside companies. Amazon and Google, by contrast, have established in-house smart home brands, including Ring and Nest, as The Verge noted. Apple’s new collection gives it its own products to recommend, though the devices were made in collaboration with established home and electronics companies rather than being presented as an entirely in-house manufacturing effort.
Drance told The Verge that Apple chose LG for its consumer-product experience and Schneider Electric for its home-building and installation experience. She described the work as a ground-up collaboration, with Apple contributing design direction. Apple is also partnering with ADT through its retail stores to help customers install the devices.
The launch does not replace the broader Apple Home ecosystem, according to Drance. Customers can still choose third-party products that work with Matter or carry the Works with Apple Home designation. The new collection is positioned as an additional, more closely integrated option rather than a requirement for using Apple Home.
““With the magic of Siri AI, it comes together in a way that we haven’t been able to deliver before.””
— Kaiann Drance, Apple vice president of product marketing for home, speaking to The Verge
Apple HomeKit Secure Video cameras
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Matter Support Has Limits
The supplied report does not give a complete rollout schedule, item-by-item pricing or detailed availability by market. It also does not establish how many customers will buy the devices or whether Apple’s curated range will overcome concerns about price and the value of smart home products.
The most visible standards gap is the cameras’ reliance on HomeKit Secure Video rather than Matter. The Verge noted that Thread support may suggest the devices could be ready for future Matter functions, but that is not confirmation that Apple will add Matter camera support. The report says Apple may be waiting for the standard to support encrypted uploads; Apple did not confirm that explanation in the material provided.
Apple’s privacy and security statements are company claims. The report describes the devices as using end-to-end encryption and the lock as working locally, but the supplied material does not include independent testing or a technical breakdown of every product’s data handling.
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Availability and Compatibility Details
The next developments to watch are the products’ wider availability, final prices for each device, and independent reviews of setup and performance. Customers will also need product-specific details to compare the collection with other Matter-compatible devices and determine which functions work locally or require Apple services.
Further information on camera compatibility could clarify whether Apple plans to support Matter cameras as the standard develops. For now, Apple says third-party Matter and Works with Apple Home products will remain part of its ecosystem, while the Home Collection offers a more tightly integrated alternative. The source report does not identify a later launch event or a confirmed date for additional announcements.
Matter compatible smart thermostats
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Key Questions
What did Apple announce?
Apple launched the Apple Home Collection, a set of cameras, thermostats, sensors, a smart lock and a video doorbell co-developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. It also introduced HomeView, its first smart display.
Why is Apple making smart home devices now?
Apple’s Kaiann Drance told The Verge that the development of Matter and advances in AI-powered Siri helped make the products possible. The devices also give Apple a curated set of recommendations for customers who may find the wider smart home market difficult to navigate.
Will Apple stop supporting other smart home brands?
No such change was announced. Drance told The Verge that Apple intends to maintain support for the wider ecosystem, including Matter and Works with Apple Home products.
Do all the Apple Home Collection devices support Matter?
No. The source report says the lock, thermostats and sensors support Matter, while the cameras use HomeKit Secure Video. It does not confirm that Apple will add Matter camera support later.
How much do the devices cost?
The source report says prices start at $200, but the supplied material does not list the price of each product or provide a full breakdown of availability.
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