October 8, 2026, 6:02 am | Read time: 2 minutes
The iPhone becomes a house key: Apple and LG are working on a smart door lock that automatically opens as soon as you approach the door with your iPhone. This is made possible by the ultra-wideband technology that Apple has already integrated into its current iPhones. The smart lock is one of seven smart home devices that both companies are jointly developing.
The complete product range includes a video doorbell, a smart door lock, a thermostat, a temperature sensor, and three cameras: one for indoors, one for outdoors, and an outdoor camera with integrated floodlight. All devices support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with some additionally supporting the smart home standards Thread and Matter. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman was the first to report on the new collaboration.
Apple develops, LG sells
The division of tasks is clearly defined: Apple handles the design, features, and technical development of the devices. LG takes care of manufacturing, sales, and customer service. The products will be sold under the LG brand. For LG, this means entering new product categories such as video doorbells and smart door locks–at least in markets outside South Korea.
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Presentation in mid-October?
Apple could unveil the smart home devices as early as October 13. An event is expected on that day, where a new HomePod mini and an Apple TV are also set to be announced. However, the LG devices will not hit the market until several months later at the earliest. LG has already filed applications with the U.S. regulatory authority FCC, but details will remain confidential until early 2027.
Restart after HomeKit flop
For Apple, the partnership with LG represents a strategic shift in the smart home sector. Its own platform, HomeKit, has largely been unsuccessful since 2014 and has not been able to compete with Amazon Echo and Google Home.
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The collaboration with LG is described as a complete restart. Apple and LG have previously collaborated: LG Display supplies screens for Apple devices, and both companies jointly developed the UltraFine monitors. In 2024, LG also acquired a majority stake in the smart home platform Homey.