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 words “Welcome home.” Reports and software records point to a broader Apple Home push involving accessories developed with LG and products from Schneider Electric, but Apple has not confirmed the lineup.

Apple has scheduled product announcements for Oct. 13 and teased the event with the phrase “Welcome home,” prompting expectations of a major Apple Home update. Apple has not announced specific products, but a Bloomberg report and device identifiers found in an iOS software table point to accessories involving LG and Schneider Electric.

Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak posted the teaser on Oct. 8. Its home-focused wording is a clue, not confirmation of what the company will announce. The available reporting and software findings suggest Apple may be preparing new hardware alongside closer integration with its smart home platform.

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 devices are expected to carry LG branding, with Apple involved in design, features and engineering, according to that reporting. Regulatory filings described in the source report offer details on three products, including a thermostat with Bluetooth Low Energy and Thread connectivity, a battery-powered temperature and humidity sensor, and a deadbolt in two finishes.

Separate findings in iOS 27.2 include a HomeKit Matter table labeled “_secondPartyProducts.” Researcher pdfu identified 10 accessory identifiers in it: six associated with LG products or variants and four using Schneider Electric’s vendor ID. Those identifiers do not necessarily represent 10 distinct products. The Schneider entries point to a thermostat and temperature/humidity sensor, among other records; Apple Home reportedly returns placeholder setup assets for the thermostat.

Apple’s Home Platform Could Gain Hardware

If the reports and software clues reflect products planned for the event, Apple would be pairing platform changes with accessory development. That could give the company more influence over setup and daily controls for devices used with Apple Home, rather than relying only on outside manufacturers to build products around existing platform features.

For customers, a broader range of doorbells, locks, cameras and climate devices could offer more options within Apple’s ecosystem. Tighter coordination may also help hardware and software support arrive together. But the potential benefits remain prospective: Apple has not confirmed the products, launch timing, prices or the features they would support.

Clues From LG and Schneider

The reported collaboration would build on Apple Home’s support for Matter, the shared smart home standard, while potentially adding integrations or features beyond basic compatibility. Apple already offers platform features such as Adaptive Lighting and Adaptive Temperature on supported devices. Those examples show how software and accessory makers can work together on capabilities that go beyond connecting devices.

LG already sells smart home products and operates ThinQ ON, a hub that LG describes as Matter-certified, with Wi-Fi and Thread connectivity. Schneider’s appearance in the software records comes as the company pursues an acquisition of Shelly Group. Shelly said an investment agreement supporting Schneider’s proposed takeover was reached on Sept. 24, and its board backed the offer on Oct. 5. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory clearance and a minimum acceptance threshold of 95%.

The “second-party” label in Apple’s software suggests the company may distinguish selected accessories in its platform, but the label alone does not establish a commercial partnership or confirm a product launch. The records are evidence of software support, not an Apple announcement.

““Welcome home.””

— Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak

Products Await Apple Confirmation

Apple has not confirmed that the Oct. 13 event will focus on smart home products, nor has it announced partnerships with LG or Schneider Electric. The teaser’s wording and the software records can point to planned work without establishing which devices will ship, when they will be available, or whether all reported accessories remain in development.

Details also remain unsettled around pricing, markets, compatibility, and the final feature set. The source report describes regulatory filings and database records but does not establish release dates for the products. The Schneider thermostat’s “Proximity Settings” wording may relate to distance or occupancy sensing, but the exact function is not confirmed.

Watch for the October 13 Event

Apple’s scheduled announcements on Oct. 13 should clarify whether the “Welcome home” teaser refers to new Apple Home hardware, software, or both. Any launch details from Apple could confirm which reported products are real and provide timing, availability and feature information.

Until the event, the LG collaboration remains based on Bloomberg’s reporting, while the Schneider and LG links in iOS are clues rather than official product announcements. Further regulatory filings or manufacturer statements could add detail, but the current source material does not identify another confirmed announcement date.

Key Questions

When is Apple’s “Welcome home” event?

Apple has scheduled its next product announcements for Oct. 13. Greg Joswiak posted the “Welcome home” teaser on Oct. 8.

Has Apple confirmed new smart home products?

No. Apple has not confirmed a smart home product lineup. The teaser, Bloomberg’s reporting and iOS accessory identifiers point to a possible announcement, but the products remain unconfirmed.

What LG devices have been reported?

Bloomberg has reported that Apple is helping LG develop a doorbell, smart deadbolt, thermostat, temperature sensor, indoor camera, outdoor camera and floodlight camera. The report says they would carry LG branding.

What do the Schneider Electric software records show?

Researcher pdfu identified four accessory identifiers using Schneider Electric’s vendor ID in an iOS HomeKit Matter table. They include records associated with a thermostat and temperature/humidity sensor, but they do not confirm a launch or four distinct consumer products.

Could Apple announce the products on Oct. 13?

It is possible, but Apple has not said what the event will cover. The event is the next confirmed opportunity to learn whether the smart home reports and software clues correspond to products Apple plans to announce.

Source: rss