LG’s new video doorbell and smart lock cost $599.90 together in the U.S. That is a useful starting point for Apple Home Collection, announced October 13, but it leaves out installation, any required home hub and the iCloud+ plan behind camera recordings and AI features. Buyers who already have compatible equipment may need considerably less new hardware than Apple’s complete home lineup suggests. [1, 2, 3]
A realistic starting budget
The $249.95 wired doorbell and $349.95 deadbolt form a front-door system. Adding the $199.95 indoor camera brings the hardware subtotal to $799.85. The outdoor plug-in camera costs $299.95, while the floodlight camera is $399.95. These are U.S. prices before tax and installation. [1]
Climate control starts at $199.95 for either the LG or Schneider Home thermostat. A separate temperature sensor adds $39.95. If the installation needs a C-wire power adapter, either brand’s adapter costs another $24.95. Schneider’s optional trim plate adds $14.95; LG includes its trim plate in the box. A Schneider thermostat with one room sensor, adapter and trim plate therefore totals $279.80 before tax or labor. Those extras depend on the home, rather than being mandatory for every buyer. [1, 4, 5]
Recording and AI have different requirements
Apple’s U.S. iCloud+ prices remain $0.99 a month for 50GB, $2.99 for 200GB and $9.99 for 2TB. HomeKit Secure Video recording supports one camera, five cameras and unlimited cameras respectively. Recordings cover the last 10 days of activity and do not consume the plan’s ordinary storage allowance. [6, 7]
Camera descriptions and natural-language search need a separate eligibility check. The launch footnote requires setup using an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, a compatible updated hub and an eligible iCloud+ plan. Apple’s separate usage-limits document provides the crucial camera counts: up to one camera for AI features such as video summaries on 2TB, two on 6TB and five on 12TB. Unlimited recording should therefore not be read as unlimited AI coverage. Apple’s published quota does not clarify how the doorbell’s two camera views are counted. [1, 2, 12]
At current rates, 12 months of the 2TB plan costs $119.88. For a new subscriber buying the doorbell and lock, that makes a $719.78 hardware-plus-2TB budget illustration before tax, installation or additional hardware. It does not establish AI coverage for both doorbell views. Moving from 200GB to 2TB adds $84 a year. Someone already paying for 2TB would not incur that subscription increase. For a five-camera home, the difference is much larger: recording fits within the $2.99 plan, while AI summaries for up to five cameras require the $59.99-a-month 12TB tier. That is $684 more per year, although the higher plan also includes much more general-purpose storage. These are budgeting examples, not all-inclusive packages. [2, 3, 6, 7, 12]
Check the physical installation
The doorbell requires existing 16–24V doorbell wiring. The floodlight camera connects to household high-voltage wiring, and its listing recommends installation by a licensed electrician. The outdoor camera has a plug-in design. One-tap pairing does not settle whether power is available where a camera needs to go. [2, 9, 10]
The deadbolt runs on four AA batteries, included in the box. Check the door measurements before ordering: its listing specifies 40–51 mm thickness, a 54 mm cross bore and a 60 mm or 70 mm backset. Hands-free unlocking also requires an Ultra Wideband-capable iPhone or Apple Watch and a Thread-enabled Apple home hub. [3]
Schneider describes support for most standard 24V residential HVAC systems. That qualification matters more than the general promise of simple installation. Apple offers paid ADT installation in the U.S., with availability dependent on location. Obtain the installation quote before treating a hardware subtotal as the finished cost. Support is another detail worth noting: the store listings direct buyers to the accessory manufacturer, and Apple’s Limited Warranty does not apply to these third-party products. [1, 3, 5]
Keep compatible hardware, then check the launch window
HomeView is one hub option. Apple also lists HomePod mini, HomePod (second generation) and Apple TV 4K for the new camera AI features with current software. Check each accessory’s networking requirements before assuming every older hub will do the same job. The lock explicitly needs a Thread-enabled hub. [3, 8]
Existing HomePod mini and second-generation HomePod temperature and humidity sensors can also reduce the need for standalone room sensors: Apple says the new thermostats can use those built-in readings. Their usefulness depends on which rooms already have speakers. [1, 11]
Availability begins in December, with selected accessories following in early 2027. Cameras are announced for the U.S., Canada and UK; the lock, thermostats and standalone sensors are announced for the U.S. and Canada. The product pages checked at publication still give no individual shipping date. Confirm the local listing, physical fit and subscription eligibility before budgeting for a complete installation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
