LG, Apple Eye Linking 3.2 Billion Devices to Lead AI Home Market

This partnership addresses distinct strategic needs for both companies in the smart home market. LG, after exiting the smartphone business, lacked an internal mobile hub to integrate its appliances. Apple, despite its robust mobile ecosystem, did not have a home appliance lineup, limiting its direct reach into the smart home. Their joint development of smart home devices aims to bridge these respective gaps.

The alliance targets a global smart home market projected to grow from $180.1 billion this year to $848.4 billion by 2034. Industry observers are focusing on whether the cooperation will extend beyond initial joint device development, such as smart door locks and security cameras, to a fully shared ecosystem. Such an integration would immediately establish one of the world's largest smart home platforms, leveraging LG's 700 million appliances and Apple's 2.5 billion mobile devices.

This move is expected to intensify competition among global tech and appliance makers, particularly against Samsung Electronics, which operates a combined appliance and mobile ecosystem estimated at 2 billion to 3 billion devices. An industry official noted this is the first time LG Electronics has moved beyond TV platform cooperation to jointly develop devices with Apple, indicating a potential expansion in the scope of their shared ecosystem.