Apple Enters the Smart Home Market with Its Own Device Lineup
After 12 years of relying on third-party manufacturers to build HomeKit-compatible devices, Apple is now entering the smart home hardware market directly with its own product lineup.
The Apple Home Collection represents the company's first major push into the smart home category. The initial lineup includes smart home cameras, thermostats, sensors, a smart door lock, and a video doorbell—all codeveloped with established smart home manufacturers LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The products arrive alongside HomeView, Apple's first smart display.
This move marks a significant shift in strategy for Apple, which has historically maintained a platform-only approach in the smart home space, leaving device hardware to partners. The decision appears to be driven by the perception that Apple's smart home ecosystem has lagged behind competitors. Amazon's Ring and Google's Nest brands have long offered in-house smart home solutions, while Apple's HomeKit platform has been widely regarded as underdeveloped by comparison.
The Home Collection products are expected to integrate tightly with Apple's existing smart home framework, though details on pricing and availability remain limited at this stage.