Apple and LG Electronics jointly develop smart home devices under LG brand
Version 2: Fresh coverage adds that Maeil Business reports seven types of smart home devices rather than four, that how LG's ThinQ platform will be coordinated with Apple's ecosystem is an open question, and that Seoul Economic Daily has published a headline referring to LG and Apple devices being combined in the billions without explaining the figure.
In short
Apple and LG Electronics are jointly developing smart home devices — a camera-equipped video doorbell, a smart door lock, a security camera and a smart temperature sensor and thermostat — to be sold under the LG brand, according to Bloomberg reports cited by Korean outlets. LG Electronics is to handle manufacturing, sales and customer support, while Apple takes part in product design, feature development and engineering oversight. The devices are expected to work with Apple's new smart home hub, due to be unveiled on October 13, with LG's devices expected to go on sale months later.
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Apple and LG Electronics are jointly developing a range of smart home devices, including a camera-equipped video doorbell, a smart door lock, a security camera and a smart temperature sensor and thermostat, according to Bloomberg reports cited by the Korean outlets. The products are to be released under the LG brand, with LG Electronics responsible for manufacturing, sales and customer support. Apple is participating in product design and feature development and is jointly supervising engineering design, the reports say. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
LG Electronics recently applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and to the certification body UL Solutions for approval of the devices, with registered product names including “LG Video Doorbell Wired”, “LG Outdoor Cam Plug-in” and “LG Smart Deadbolt Lock”, Yonhap and Electronic Times reported. The smart door lock includes ultra-wideband (UWB) technology that unlocks automatically when a user approaches. Yonhap and Electronic Times said the documents submitted to regulators do not state any cooperation with Apple, and that the joint development is known through the sources cited by Bloomberg. Seoul Economic Daily reported that the products had passed FCC certification, while Yonhap and Electronic Times described the filings as applications still in process. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The devices are expected to work with Apple's new smart home hub, which Apple is due to unveil on October 13, according to the reports. Seoul Economic Daily described the hub as a square device with a 6-inch display, roughly the thickness of an iPhone, carrying the AI assistant Siri AI and able to control household appliances and internet-of-things devices. LG Electronics' smart home devices are expected to go on sale several months after the hub is shown, the reports say. Yonhap reported that Apple is working with LG Electronics because of its record in home appliances and its existing cooperation with Apple in areas such as displays. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Outlets framed the move as an effort by both companies to strengthen their positions in the smart home market. Yonhap and Electronic Times said Apple has lagged Amazon's Ring and Google's Nest in smart home devices, and that it plans to push ahead with its renewed Siri voice assistant. Yonhap and Electronic Times also reported that this would be the first time LG Electronics sells a smart door lock outside Korea. Seoul Economic Daily cited industry views that the two companies are covering each other's weaknesses to compete with Samsung Electronics, which develops and connects both Galaxy mobile devices and home appliances, whereas Apple has no appliance business and LG Electronics has exited mobile. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Maeil Business reported that the two companies are jointly developing seven types of smart home devices, more than the four categories named by other outlets, and said the LG-developed products could also be shown at the October 13 hub event. LG Electronics already operates its own smart home platform, ThinQ, and Maeil Business said how that platform's relationship with Apple's ecosystem is coordinated will be an important task going forward; the other outlets do not address ThinQ. Seoul Economic Daily published a headline referring to LG and Apple devices being combined in the billions and to taking the lead in the high-growth “AI home” market, without article text explaining the figure. [ 2 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Apple has previously used a “second-party supplier” strategy of expanding its product ecosystem through other companies' brands, including Belkin and Logitech, Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily reported. The reports do not state launch dates or prices for the LG-branded devices. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
For LG Electronics, the reported cooperation would extend its hardware line beyond home appliances and TVs into smart home security devices, and would mark its first sales of a smart door lock outside Korea. For Apple, which Korean outlets say has lagged Amazon's Ring and Google's Nest in smart home hardware, LG-branded third-party devices would widen the device ecosystem around its new smart home hub, following its earlier second-party supplier approach with Belkin and Logitech.
Key facts
- Apple and LG Electronics are jointly developing a camera-equipped video doorbell, a smart door lock, a security camera and a smart temperature sensor and thermostat, according to Bloomberg reports cited by the Korean outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The products are to be released under the LG brand, with LG Electronics responsible for manufacturing, sales and customer support and Apple involved in design, feature development and engineering oversight. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 9 ]
- LG Electronics recently filed for certification with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the certification body UL Solutions, with registered product names including “LG Video Doorbell Wired”, “LG Outdoor Cam Plug-in” and “LG Smart Deadbolt Lock”. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The smart door lock includes ultra-wideband (UWB) technology that unlocks automatically when a user approaches, and would be LG Electronics' first smart door lock sold outside Korea. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The devices are expected to link with Apple's new smart home hub, due to be unveiled on October 13, while LG's devices are expected to go on sale several months later. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Maeil Business reported that the two companies are jointly developing seven types of smart home devices. [ 9 ]
- Apple has previously used a “second-party supplier” strategy of expanding its product ecosystem through other companies' brands, including Belkin and Logitech. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Apple and LG Electronics are jointly developing smart home devices — a camera-equipped video doorbell, a smart door lock, a security camera and a smart temperature sensor and thermostat — as reported by Bloomberg and cited by multiple Korean outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The devices are to carry the LG brand, with LG Electronics handling manufacturing, sales and customer support and Apple involved in design, feature development and engineering oversight. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 9 ]
- LG Electronics applied to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and UL Solutions for certification of the devices, with LG-branded product names registered. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The devices are expected to be linked to Apple's smart home hub to be unveiled on October 13, and LG device sales are expected to follow months later. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The smart door lock would be LG Electronics' first such product sold outside Korea, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether LG Electronics has already passed U.S. certification or has only applied for it. Seoul Economic Daily said the products had passed FCC certification, while Yonhap and Electronic Times described the filings as applications or requests still in process.
- The collaboration itself has not been confirmed by Apple or LG Electronics. The reports are based on Bloomberg sources; Yonhap and Electronic Times note that the regulatory documents submitted to U.S. authorities do not state any cooperation with Apple.
- How many devices are involved in the joint development. Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily, Electronic Times and Dong-A Ilbo name four product categories, while Maeil Business says seven types of devices are being jointly developed.
- What the figure in Seoul Economic Daily's headline on LG and Apple devices being combined in the billions refers to. The item carries only a headline, with no article text or summary explaining the number.
- Exact launch dates and prices for the LG-branded devices. The documents say only that sales are expected several months after Apple's hub unveiling.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes a detailed report on the Apple-LG Electronics smart home cooperation. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the joint development and says the products had passed FCC certification. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the smart home alliance and joint development of doorbell and door lock devices. [ 3 ]
- Electronic Times reports the joint development and says LG applied for certification with the FCC and UL Solutions. [ 4 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports that Apple and LG are jointly developing a video doorbell, smart lock, security camera and thermostat. [ 5 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports further details, including the expected role of Apple's voice assistant Siri and sale of the devices under the LG brand. [ 6 ]
- Maeil Business reports the two companies are jointly developing seven types of smart home devices. [ 9 , 10 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily publishes a headline on LG and Apple devices being combined and on taking the lead in the high-growth AI home market. [ 11 ]