Apple Home Collection Cameras Go on Preorder at $199.95 to $299.95

Apple has opened preorders for the first three smart home devices in its new Apple Home Collection.

The initial group of items consists of three LG Electronics products. The LG Outdoor Cam costs $299.95, the LG Indoor Cam is $199.95, and the LG Video Doorbell is $249.95. Apple lists the estimated shipping window for these three units as December 11 through December 17.

The company unveiled this collection about a month ago as part of an expanded effort in the smart home market. That push centers on the new HomeView smart display. This device runs on a Siri-driven AI system and went on sale on Friday, the same day preorders for the partner hardware began.

Several other products in the lineup are listed on Apple's store but do not yet have preorder options. The LG Floodlight Cam is priced at $399.95, the LG Smart Deadbolt Lock at $349.95, and the LG Smart Thermostat at $199.95. None of these carry an estimated ship date. Schneider Electric's contributions are also waiting on release details. The Schneider Home Smart Thermostat is listed at $199.95, and the Schneider Home Room Sensor is $39.95, but both remain without preorder buttons.

Apple says these devices do not offer exclusive features compared to rival smart home gear. Instead, the partnership focuses on a simplified setup process. Users can activate a device by tapping it with an iPhone. The hardware also relies on the Thread networking protocol. This allows the devices to stay connected to each other even if they lose access to the internet or the home's Wi-Fi network.

The system can automatically update network credentials when an owner makes changes to the wireless network. This removes the need to set up each product again after a router swap or password change.