This past weekend, a report emerged indicating that Apple is developing a smart home doorbell equipped with Face ID technology. This follows a prior announcement about the anticipated release of an Apple smart home camera next year.
While it’s debatable whether these are mere commodity items, with the real value lying in the HomeKit ecosystem rather than the gadgets themselves, the market opportunity for Apple is undeniably significant …
Apple’s Approach
Many of us have been engaged with smart home technology for numerous years, making it easy to overlook that this is still largely a niche market for early adopters.
It’s quite uncommon for me to visit the homes of family or friends and find smart home devices integrated into their lives. For the majority, this technology remains the playground of enthusiasts, with everyday users viewing it as complex and baffling.
Apple excels at transforming intricate technology into products that appeal to the general public.
The iPhone serves as a prime example. Before 2007, smartphones were primarily seen as geeky gadgets with physical keyboards and styluses, appealing only to the most tech-savvy individuals. The iPhone democratized this technology, making it accessible to a broader audience.
This trend extends back to early Apple products. The Macintosh, the iPod, the iPad, and the Apple Watch all demonstrate Apple’s knack for popularizing technology. If any company can usher smart homes into the mainstream, it’s Apple.
HomeKit’s Contributions
Apple’s initial venture into this arena was with HomeKit. The concept was to enable control of any smart home device through a single app on the iPhone, as well as via Siri.
This definitely made a difference. It improved the accessibility of smart home tech and addressed some privacy and security concerns that had been hindering market growth. Moreover, HomeKit demonstration setups in Apple stores familiarized more people with the technology, showcasing its practicality and ease of use.
Furthermore, Apple tackled a major issue concerning smart home cameras through HomeKit Secure Video. Following numerous security breaches reported by even reputable brands, Apple established a method ensuring that footage would be accessible only to the user—never to others, including Apple itself.
Ideally, these advancements would have sufficed, allowing Apple to leave the hardware challenges to other companies. However, HomeKit only made incremental improvements and has yet to fully establish smart homes as a mainstream concept.
The Success of Apple-Branded Devices
Most non-tech-savvy consumers may not grasp the intricacies of HomeKit’s security protocols, but they do trust Apple. Consequently, if Apple begins marketing smart home devices—especially the more intimidating ones like cameras and locks—there’s potential for a significant increase in consumer interest.
Last month, when news of a potential Apple-branded smart home camera broke, over 80% of respondents indicated they would consider purchasing one.
A smart doorbell would naturally belong to the broader category of smart home cameras, suggesting that Kuo and Gurman may refer to the same projects. However, if Apple does venture into this market, I anticipate that it wouldn’t limit itself to just one device but would explore options like external security cameras, indoor cameras, and a smart doorbell.
The latest reports indicate that Apple’s doorbell would likely integrate with other existing HomeKit-compatible smart locks, and there’s a possibility that the company could collaborate with a partner to present a comprehensive system. Considering the clear opportunities for integration, such as using Face ID on the doorbell camera to unlock a smart lock, this strategy makes perfect sense.
Apple is known for its selective development process, frequently declining numerous ideas for each one that makes it to production. A partnership could feature a co-branded smart lock, for instance, featuring both Apple and Yale branding.
However, a joint effort on a smart doorbell seems less probable. None of the current smart camera brands have standout reputations.
This factor alone leads me to anticipate that any camera Apple creates will carry the unmistakable Apple branding. Furthermore, the likely inclusion of Apple’s Intelligent features seals the deal.
Additionally, while some smart locks utilize facial recognition technology, I find it difficult to trust any of them as much as I trust Face ID.
A Win for Everyone
The potential advantages for both Apple and everyday users are clear. Yet, I believe we all stand to benefit from this shift.
As smart homes become more commonplace and Apple highlights security and privacy issues, the overall technology will improve for everyone involved—both tech enthusiasts and newcomers. I would be thrilled to see this evolution take place.
Image: Google Nest
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