Apple’s new smart home lineup includes a smart lock, thermostat, and video doorbells

If you're invested in the Apple ecosystem, smart locks and doorbells now offer a more seamless integration with your existing devices.

Apple is expanding its smart home presence with the launch of the Apple Home Collection, featuring a smart deadbolt lock, video doorbell, thermostat, temperature sensor, and security cameras. These new devices, available in December, are designed to integrate with Apple's new smart home hub, HomeView. The smart lock utilizes ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for proximity-based unlocking, while the video doorbell offers remote viewing and notifications. Apple partnered with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric for the manufacturing of these accessories. The smart lock is priced at $349.95, and the wired video doorbell at $249.95. The new lineup aims to challenge established players like Amazon Ring and Google Nest in the connected home security market.

Apple's entry into the smart lock and doorbell market with UWB technology signals a move toward more advanced, context-aware home automation. This focus on precise proximity detection could set new standards for user convenience and security, potentially pushing competitors to adopt similar technologies for automatic unlocking and access control.

The strategic partnerships with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric suggest Apple is willing to leverage external manufacturing expertise to accelerate its hardware ambitions, a departure from its historically insular approach. This collaboration may also indicate a broader trend of tech giants partnering for specialized hardware development to broaden their ecosystem reach more rapidly and effectively.