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Apple is making its biggest push yet into the smart home security market, with a range of devices making up the new Apple Home Collection. Developed in partnership with LG, the collection launches with a video doorbell, plus three security cameras for indoor and outdoor monitoring. There’s also a smart door lock and a thermostat, but those are limited to the US and Canada at launch.
Announced alongside the new Apple HomeView , the HomePod Mini 2 smart speaker and an updated Apple TV 4K streaming box, the doorbell and cameras mark a significant step for Apple, which has previously left others to make devices compatible with its Home app, rather than be involved with the hardware itself. Typically sleek in their appearance (but lacking any Apple branding), the video doorbell and security cameras work with Apple’s existing HomeKit smart home platform. Apple promises “effortless, one-tap setup” where the products are added to your HomeKit system by simply bringing them close to your iPhone.
Apple is emphasising privacy, stating data is encrypted end-to-end, so only you and your chosen contacts can access the Home Collection devices, control them, and view video recordings. The wired video doorbell by Apple and LG is available in graphite and silver (Apple) The £229.95 video doorbell is a wired device, so it is powered by your existing doorbell wiring and lacks the bulk of one that’s battery-powered. The doorbell has a dual-camera design that captures 2.5K footage of visitors and a 1080p view of packages left on the doorstep.
There’s an integrated dimmable spotlight and a night vision system that can record in colour in low light, or use infrared in total darkness. There’s no chime included. Instead, Apple’s HomePod smart speakers and new HomeView display can act as a chime, and notifications can go to other Apple devices, like your iPhone, when a visitor presses the button.
The doorbell is said to be able to detect people, pets, vehicles and packages, telling them apart from other types of movement, and there’s a system for labelling friends and family members using your iPhone’s photo library, so recognised visitors are identified as they approach. The Apple/LG outdoor security camera is available with or without a spotlight (Apple) Next is a pair of outdoor security cameras, one with a floodlight and one without. Both have been developed by LG for the Apple Home Collection and are wired cameras with no battery.
They record at the same 2.5K resolution as the video doorbell, and have the same night vision system. These are primarily intended to upload footage to the owner’s iCloud storage, but they also have built-in storage to keep working if the wifi goes down. Their feature set will be familiar to most home security camera owners, including customisable detection zones to help reduce unnecessary alerts, IP65 weather protection, and two-way audio thanks to a microphone and speaker.
As with the doorbell, alerts are sent to the Apple HomeView, HomePod, HomePod Mini 2 and Apple TV 4K, as well as to the owner’s iPhone and other Apple products. When integrated with an iCloud+ subscription, each camera stores recordings in the cloud for 10 days, and these can be searched through using natural language – so in theory you can search for “a parcel being delivered” instead of manually scrolling through the footage to find that moment. The regular LG outdoor camera is priced at £279.95, while the model with a floodlight is £349.95.
The indoor security camera automatically tilts down when the first household member returns home. (Apple) Lastly, an indoor camera from LG costs £179.95 and also ties into the new Apple Home Collection. This camera is also mains-powered and saves recordings to the owner’s iCloud account, where they are stored for 10 days and searchable with natural language. It also records at 2.5K resolution, with colour night vision and some internal storage to temporarily take over if the wifi goes down.
Designed to sit on a table or mount to a wall or ceiling, the camera can tilt to monitor the room when you’re away, then automatically tilts down to stop monitoring when the first member of the household returns. These new products will be available to purchase in the UK from December. A new smart door lock from LG and a thermostat by Schneider Electric were also announced this week as part of the Apple Home Collection.
These will initially be available only in the US and Canada, with no plans confirmed for the UK just yet. Apple added that additional “select accessories” will be available from early 2027.
Source: The Independent
