Apple Teams With LG on Seven Smart Home Devices, FCC Filings Show

Seven new LG-branded smart home products — including a video doorbell, a smart deadbolt and a thermostat — are moving through U.S. regulatory approval, and according to a Bloomberg report, Apple is the hidden partner behind the lineup.

LG has spent the past several weeks seeking approvals from organizations including the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The public filing databases name the full slate: the LG Video Doorbell Wired, LG Floodlight Cam, LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In, LG Indoor Cam Plug-In, LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, LG Smart Thermostat and LG Temperature Sensor. The filings list product names, technical details and drawings. LG asked to keep photos and more detailed information confidential until early next year, and it does not mention Apple's role anywhere in the documents.

What does the Apple-LG deal actually cover?

The partnership, per Bloomberg, assigns Apple a behind-the-scenes role: it will help develop the accessories, while LG brands them, manufactures them and handles customer support. Apple has used this playbook before with accessory makers such as Belkin and Logitech.

The structure carries a clear financial logic. It lets Apple add devices to its ecosystem without bearing the expense and logistics of manufacturing and supporting them itself. Apple can still influence design, customize features and oversee engineering while keeping its involvement out of public view.

Which products are coming, and when?

The lineup goes well beyond the doorbell and thermostat:

• LG Video Doorbell Wired
• LG Floodlight Cam
• LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In
• LG Indoor Cam Plug-In
• LG Smart Deadbolt Lock
• LG Smart Thermostat
• LG Temperature Sensor

Many of the accessories support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, according to the filings. The door lock includes ultra-wideband capability, a feature that lets the door unlock automatically as a user approaches.

Shoppers should not expect the LG accessories on shelves for at least another few months, the report indicates.

How does this fit Apple's broader home strategy?

Apple is pushing beyond phones, tablets and laptops, and the LG partnership is one piece of a wider smart home effort. Bloomberg reports that Apple is also preparing an updated HomePod mini and a new TV set-top box. The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) is Apple's current media streaming box, and the 64 GB Wi-Fi model retails for around $199. It streams live TV and sports from providers like ESPN.

Beyond the doorbell and thermostat, the planned smart home lineup includes a smart deadbolt, indoor and outdoor security cameras and a floodlight camera. Apple also intends to introduce additional products in the future, per Bloomberg, including:

• A privacy-focused home monitor
• A hub with a screen mounted on a robotic arm
• A home security monitoring service

Why the deal matters for LG

For LG, the arrangement marks a notable expansion beyond TVs and appliances. The company is developing its first indoor camera in nearly a decade, plus its first outdoor camera, thermostat, floodlight camera and doorbell in recent years. It is also the first time LG will sell a smart lock outside South Korea.

Who loses if this works?

The move puts Apple and LG into more direct competition with the Amazon Ring and Google Nest smart home ecosystems — the two dominant players in the category. Apple gains a hardware footprint in categories where it currently has no first-party products, and LG gains distribution reach into homes through Apple's ecosystem.

With regulatory approvals underway and confidential details locked until early next year, the first test of the partnership will come when the seven devices reach consumers — and when Apple decides how visible it wants to be in marketing them.