Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Tech

Apple Home Collection brings cameras, lock, and thermostats in December

Rive News Research Desk

Published · 5 min read

Key takeaways

  • Apple announced a new set of smart home gear on October 13, 2026.
  • Prices start at $39.95 for sensors. The gear goes on sale in December.
  • The lineup has cameras, a smart lock, and two thermostats. All run in the Home app.
A video doorbell camera by a front door
A video doorbell camera by a front door. A doorbell camera shows who is at your door.Image: Wikimedia Commons

Apple has a new set of smart home gear. It is called Apple Home Collection. The gear goes on sale in December.

Prices start at $39.95 in the United States.

A smart home has devices you control with your phone or voice. Lights, locks, and cameras can all work this way. This lineup adds more such devices to Apple's system.

What happened

Apple announced the lineup on October 13, 2026. It built the gear with two partners. The partners are LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. Apple shared the news at its Welcome Home event.

The gear works with the Apple Home app. You set up each item with one tap on an iPhone. You do not need a second app.

You do not need a second account. You can also control the gear with Siri. Siri is Apple's voice helper.

The lineup has four cameras. All four come from LG. Each camera records video up to 2.5K.

That means sharp, clear video. The cameras can spot people, pets, cars, and boxes. They store 10 days of event video.

You need a paid iCloud+ plan for that. iCloud+ is Apple's paid storage plan. There is no separate camera fee.

The Video Doorbell costs $249.95. It has two cameras. The top camera films guests at the door. The bottom camera watches boxes on the ground.

It also has a built-in light. A chime can play through HomeView, HomePod, or HomePod mini. HomePod is Apple's smart speaker.

The Floodlight Cam costs $399.95. It has two bright lights. The lights turn on when they sense motion. The Outdoor Cam costs $299.95. You can aim it where you need it.

The Indoor Cam costs $199.95. It tilts down when the first person comes home. That stops it from filming people at home.

The Smart Deadbolt Lock costs $349.95. A smart lock is a door lock you open with your phone. This lock can open on its own. It senses when you walk up with your iPhone or Apple Watch.

You can also tap to unlock. You can type a PIN code. A PIN code is a short secret number.

There is also a hidden backup key slot. The lock can tell if the door is open, closed, or forced. You can share guest access in the Home app.

That gives a dog walker or guest their own way in. The lock keeps its core jobs working with no internet.

There are two new thermostats. A thermostat sets your home heat and cooling. One comes from LG.

One comes from Schneider Electric. Each costs $199.95. Both set the heat on their own. They check if you are home, asleep, or away.

They use room sensors to read heat and damp air. Damp air means humidity. Each sensor costs $39.95. That is the lowest price in the lineup.

Here are the starting prices in the United States:

  • Temperature sensor: $39.95
  • Room sensor: $39.95
  • Indoor Cam: $199.95
  • LG thermostat: $199.95
  • Schneider thermostat: $199.95
  • Video Doorbell: $249.95
  • Outdoor Cam: $299.95
  • Smart Deadbolt Lock: $349.95
  • Floodlight Cam: $399.95

The gear can work as one team. One "Good Morning" scene can set the heat. It can tilt the indoor camera down.

It can start music on HomePod. When the last person leaves, the heat drops. The door locks.

The cameras start to watch. Each device also uses Thread. That helps it stay linked if Wi-Fi drops.

If you change your home Wi-Fi, the gear updates its own settings.

A person holds a smart thermostat in a home
A person holds a smart thermostat in a home. A thermostat sets the heat and cooling.Image: Wikimedia Commons

Why it matters

Apple is late to this market. Amazon Ring and Google Nest already sell such gear. TechCrunch reported the new lineup could help Apple catch up.

The big draw is one app. Today, smart home gear often needs many apps. Each brand has its own app and account.

This lineup needs only the Home app. That makes setup much simpler.

Privacy is the second draw. Apple says all Home app data is locked end to end. End to end means only you and people you pick can see it.

Apple says LG, Schneider, and Apple itself cannot read it. Camera clips stay locked in iCloud for 10 days. They are handled on your home hub or in Apple's private cloud.

There is one catch. The 10-day video history needs a paid iCloud+ plan. Buyers should check the plan cost before they buy.

The cameras also work best with a home hub. A hub is a device that links your home gear. HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, or HomeView can fill that role.

The Home Collection is not the HomeView hub. HomeView is a separate product. It is a screen that controls your home.

The new cameras can work with HomeView. They can also work with HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K. Our guide explains how Apple HomeView works as a separate hub.

What happens next

Sales start in December. You can buy the gear at Apple stores. You can buy it on Apple's site.

You can buy it in the Apple Store app. Apple says some items will arrive in early 2027. Apple has not named the later items in its release.

Where you live matters. The cameras will sell in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The lock, thermostats, and sensors will sell only in the United States and Canada.

HomeView will not sell in the European Union. Apple says Siri AI is not yet on iOS in the EU.

Apple stores in the United States will also offer setup help from ADT. ADT is a home security firm. This help costs extra.

It starts this fall. If you want a screen for control, see Apple's October smart home hub launch.

December will show if buyers pick Apple's simpler path. The gear is priced like its rivals. The pitch is one app and locked data.

The next test is real homes, not launch day.

Taggedapple home collectionsmart homeapple accessories

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