LG’s Smart Deadbolt Lock needs more than an iPhone to set up. According to Apple’s store page, the $349.95 lock requires “a Thread-enabled Apple Home hub such as HomeView, HomePod mini, or select Apple TV 4K devices running the latest operating system software.”
The word “select” is doing real work there. Most Apple TV 4K models qualify, but some older ones do not, and the LG Temperature Sensor has the same requirement. Here is how to check what you already own.
For the lock itself, see our LG Smart Deadbolt Lock launch story.
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Which LG products need a Thread hub
Two Apple Store product pages carry the same Thread hub requirement:
- LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, $349.95 (U.S.)
- LG Temperature Sensor, $39.95 (U.S.)
Apple’s Apple Home Collection press release says “Every device supports Thread, helping it maintain connectivity even if a Wi-Fi connection drops.” The broader footnote for the lineup says additional features “vary by accessory and require a compatible home hub such as Apple HomeView, HomePod, or Apple TV.”
The lock’s page also notes that alert and notification features “require an internet connection, the Home app, and an Apple home hub.”
Apple home hubs with Thread
This table uses Apple’s tech specs pages and support documents for each device.
| Home hub | Thread | What Apple’s page says |
|---|---|---|
| Apple HomeView | Yes | Tech specs list Thread networking technology; named on the lock’s page |
| Apple HomeView (Wall Mounted) | Yes | Shares the HomeView tech specs page; listed in the lock’s compatibility list |
| HomePod mini 2 | Yes | Tech specs list Thread networking technology |
| HomePod mini (original) | Yes | Tech specs list Thread networking technology |
| HomePod (2nd generation) | Yes | Tech specs list Thread networking technology |
| Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | Yes | Tech specs list Thread networking technology |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet, 128GB | Yes | Thread listed for this model only |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi, 64GB | No | Thread not listed for the Wi-Fi model |
| Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) | Yes | Tech specs list Thread |
| Apple TV 4K (1st generation) | No | Thread not listed in tech specs |
The Apple TV 4K catch
The model most likely to trip people up is the cheaper Apple TV 4K (3rd generation). Apple’s tech specs page for that model, saved before the October 13 launch, splits connectivity by version. The Wi-Fi model lists HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and an IR receiver. Only the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model adds “Thread networking technology” and Gigabit Ethernet.
Apple’s own support document on home hubs reflects the same split. It says “Thread-enabled Matter accessories require a Thread-enabled home hub, such as HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet, or a supported third-party border router.” Note that the Apple Home Collection pages specifically call for an Apple Home hub.
The new Apple TV 4K (4th generation) removes the confusion. Its tech specs list a single 128GB configuration with Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread networking technology. Apple’s release says that “with built-in Wi-Fi and Thread, Apple TV 4K can seamlessly connect and control a user’s smart home.”
How to see which hub your home is using
Apple’s support document explains where to look in the Home app on iPhone, iPad or Mac:
- Open the Home app and tap or click the More button.
- Select Home Settings, then Home Hubs & Bridges.
- Your active home hub appears at the top of the screen.
- You can turn off Automatic Selection to pick a preferred home hub manually.
If the active hub is a 64GB Wi-Fi Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) or an Apple TV 4K (1st generation), and you have no other Thread-capable hub, plan to add one before the lock arrives. Apple also notes that only home owners can add HomePod or Apple TV to the Home app as home hubs.
If you need a new hub
Apple’s current options with Thread are:
- HomePod mini 2 at $149 (U.S.)
- Apple TV 4K (4th generation) at $299 (U.S.)
- Apple HomeView or Apple HomeView (Wall Mounted) at $299 (U.S.)
Do not use the lock’s store compatibility list as a Thread checklist. It names every Apple TV 4K generation and HomePod (1st generation) without separating the models that have Thread. Apple’s footnote also says the hub must be running the latest operating system software.
Timing
Apple says Apple Home Collection will be available starting in December, with select accessories available starting early 2027. The lock is listed for the U.S. and Canada, and its store page currently reads “Coming later,” which leaves time to sort out a hub first.
