Apple’s “Welcome Home” Event Could Reveal Its Biggest Smart Home Push Yet — With LG And Schneider Onboard

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Apple has scheduled product announcements for Oct. 13 and teased them with the phrase “Welcome home.” Reports and software records point to possible smart-home accessories developed with LG and selected Schneider Electric products, but Apple has not confirmed the products or the event’s focus.

Apple has scheduled product announcements for Oct. 13, teasing the event with the phrase “Welcome home” and prompting speculation about a larger smart-home push. Reports of an Apple-LG accessory collaboration and Schneider Electric product references in Apple software offer clues, but Apple has not confirmed that new home devices will be announced.

Marketing chief Greg Joswiak posted the teaser video on Oct. 8. It shows an embroidered rainbow Apple logo and carries no product details beyond the “Welcome home” message. The date and wording are confirmed; the event’s subject and any products remain unconfirmed by Apple.

Bloomberg has reported that Apple is helping LG develop seven home accessories: a wired video doorbell, smart deadbolt, thermostat, temperature sensor, indoor camera, outdoor camera and floodlight camera. The report says the products would carry LG branding, with Apple involved in design, features and engineering. Regulatory filings provide early details for three: a thermostat with 24-volt AC power, Bluetooth Low Energy and Thread; a battery-powered temperature and humidity sensor; and a deadbolt offered in Graphite and Silver.

Separate evidence comes from iOS 27.2. Researcher pdfu identified 10 accessory identifiers in a HomeKitMatter table labeled “_secondPartyProducts”: six linked to LG products or variants and four using Schneider Electric’s vendor ID. These are identifiers, not necessarily 10 separate retail products. The Schneider entries point to a thermostat, a thermostat QA variant, a temperature-and-humidity sensor and an unidentified accessory.

Apple Home Could Gain More Hardware

If the reported collaboration leads to products, Apple could add more choice in categories that shape everyday use of a smart home: entry security, climate control and cameras. The combination of accessory development and platform software could also give Apple more influence over setup and controls than it would have through basic compatibility alone. That is a potential direction, not a confirmed event announcement.

The distinction matters to buyers because a device can support Matter without offering every platform-specific feature. Apple already supports additions such as Adaptive Lighting and Adaptive Temperature on compatible products. Closer work with manufacturers could help align hardware capabilities with Apple Home features, while leaving products branded and made by partners.

For people choosing a home platform, a wider accessory range could reduce the need to mix devices with different setup processes or rely on limited options in certain categories. But availability, prices, compatibility requirements and feature support have not been announced, so the practical effect is not yet known.

Software Records Point to Partners

The Schneider references are more specific than a general mention of Matter support. According to pdfu, Apple Home returns placeholder setup assets for the thermostat, and its configuration includes the phrase “Proximity Settings.” That wording could relate to distance or occupancy sensing used for climate control or waking a display, but the records do not confirm how the feature would work in a product.

Matter Device Library records add matching product clues. Schneider’s production thermostat record is currently named “TP” and shares vendor and product IDs with a record called “Schneider Home Smart Thermostat”; another record lists a temperature-and-humidity sensor. The “second-party” label suggests Apple software treats selected accessories differently, but it does not by itself establish a retail launch or an exclusive arrangement.

LG already has connected-home experience through its ThinQ ON hub, introduced at IFA 2024. LG describes it as Matter-certified, with Wi-Fi and Thread connectivity and support for other manufacturers’ devices. Schneider, meanwhile, has agreed to pursue an acquisition of Shelly Group. Shelly announced an investment agreement supporting the proposed takeover on Sept. 24, and its board backed the offer on Oct. 5. Completion is expected in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory clearance and a 95% minimum acceptance threshold.

““Welcome home.””

— Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak

Products and Features Remain Unconfirmed

Apple has not said what it will announce on Oct. 13, whether the teaser refers to smart-home products, or whether LG and Schneider devices will be part of the event. The reported LG lineup, product timing and Apple’s role have not been confirmed by the companies in the supplied material.

The software identifiers and regulatory filings offer clues, not proof of a launch. The Schneider accessory with an unidentified product designation remains unclear, and “Proximity Settings” does not establish the thermostat’s final functions. Prices, release dates, regional availability, Matter certification status for each rumored device and any Apple Home-specific features have not been disclosed.

Watch for the Oct. 13 Announcements

Apple’s scheduled Oct. 13 announcements are the next clear milestone. A product reveal or supporting details from Apple, LG or Schneider could establish whether the software and reporting clues correspond to devices coming to market. Until then, the event’s smart-home focus remains a possibility rather than a confirmed plan.

If accessories are announced, readers will need to look for launch dates, pricing, supported platforms, hub requirements and which features depend on Apple Home. Any Schneider acquisition of Shelly Group is on a separate track, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2027 if the stated regulatory and acceptance conditions are met.

Key Questions

What has Apple confirmed about the Oct. 13 event?

Apple has scheduled product announcements for Oct. 13 and shared a teaser reading “Welcome home.” It has not confirmed that the announcements will focus on smart-home products.

Which products are reportedly being developed with LG?

Bloomberg has reported a seven-device lineup: a wired video doorbell, smart deadbolt, thermostat, temperature sensor, indoor camera, outdoor camera and floodlight camera. Apple and LG have not confirmed the lineup in the supplied material.

What do Apple’s software records say about Schneider Electric?

Researcher pdfu found four accessory identifiers using Schneider’s vendor ID in an iOS 27.2 table labeled “_secondPartyProducts.” They point to thermostat and sensor entries, but do not confirm that those devices will be sold or announced.

Does “Proximity Settings” confirm an occupancy feature?

No. The phrase appears in a thermostat setup configuration, according to pdfu. It may suggest proximity-related behavior, but the records do not confirm the feature’s purpose or how it would operate.

Source: rss