Recent leaks reveal that Apple is working with LG to launch a fresh lineup of smart home devices. These upcoming second party gadgets will include a special trick specifically designed for people who own an iPhone. This new functionality allows your phone to interact with the hardware just by getting close to it, making daily routines around the house much smoother.
Bringing your phone near the hardware opens instant control menus
A recent discovery in the code shows that this feature is called Proximity Control. When you hold your handset near one of these new smart home items, an alert will pop up directly in the Dynamic Island. You will not have to dig through the HomeKit app to adjust your house settings anymore.
The type of alert you see changes based on what you are standing next to. If you tap your phone against a smart thermostat, a button to open its controls will appear on your screen. If you walk up to one of the security cameras or a smart doorbell, a live camera viewer will pop out so you can see what is going on immediately. The devices use an internal tag to tell the phone which menu to open.
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This feature will also help during the very first setup process. Tapping the hardware to pair it will trigger visual feedback in the Dynamic Island to guide you along. These new devices stem from a large partnership with LG that is expected to introduce thermostats, deadbolts, and security cameras in the coming months. We might even hear more official details about this lineup at the upcoming hardware event next week.
Adding hardware that reacts to your physical presence could change how people interact with their living spaces. While basic smart gadgets wait for a voice command or a button press, this approach turns the phone in your pocket into a physical key for your entire house.
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