LG’s Smart Deadbolt Lock is the only door lock in Apple Home Collection, the new lineup of smart home accessories Apple announced on October 13 with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. According to Apple, the lock starts at $349.95 (U.S.), comes in Essence Graphite and Essence Silver, and will be sold in the U.S. and Canada through Apple’s own stores.
Its headline feature is hands-free entry: with a home key on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, the door unlocks as you walk up, using Ultra Wideband to judge how close you are.
Price, colours and availability
Here is what Apple has confirmed for the lock in its Apple Home Collection press release.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
| Detail | LG Smart Deadbolt Lock |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $349.95 (U.S.) |
| Colours | Essence Graphite, Essence Silver |
| Countries | U.S. and Canada |
| Where to buy | apple.com/store, the Apple Store app, Apple Store locations |
| Availability | Collection starts in December; select accessories start early 2027 |
| Standards | Matter, Aliro, Thread |
Apple says Apple Home Collection “will be available starting in December,” with “select accessories available starting early 2027.” The release does not say which products fall into the later window, so the lock’s exact ship date is not yet pinned down. Apple also lists only the U.S. price, so Canadian pricing will have to wait for the Canadian store.
Unlike the LG cameras and video doorbell, which are also coming to the UK, the lock is limited to the U.S. and Canada at launch.
Hands-free unlock with Ultra Wideband
The lock uses Ultra Wideband technology to tell how close a user is and when they are approaching the door. Apple says that as a user with a home key on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch walks up, “the door unlocks automatically, with no tapping required.”
In practice, the phone or watch can stay in your pocket or on your wrist.
Apple ties the same idea into Home automations. Using on-device intelligence from iPhone or Apple Watch, Apple Home can recognise key moments in the day. When the last person leaves for work, the door locks, the thermostat adjusts for an empty home and cameras start monitoring again. On the way back, “the front door unlocks automatically as they approach.”
Other ways in
Hands-free unlock is not the only option. Apple lists three alternatives:
- Tap to unlock with an iPhone or Apple Watch.
- An integrated PIN pad on the exterior.
- A hidden backup key slot.
The backup key slot means there is still a physical fallback if a phone is lost or out of charge, just kept out of sight.
Door sensing, guest access and the front-door system
The lock can sense whether the door has been opened, closed or tampered with, and it will alert users if the door is open even while the deadbolt is locked.
Guest access is handled directly in the Home app. Apple’s examples are a dog walker, a house sitter or a visiting family member, each of whom can be given “their own way in” without a separate app or account.
The lock also pairs with LG’s Video Doorbell Wired, which starts at $249.95 (U.S.). Controls in the Home app let the doorbell and lock work together as a front-door system, so users can see who is there and unlock the door in a single view or by asking Siri. When a visitor rings, a chime plays through HomeView, HomePod or HomePod mini, and a notification appears on devices like iPhone or iPad. From wherever they are, users can see the visitor, talk to them and unlock the door.
Matter, Aliro and local operation
Apple says the lock “is Matter compatible and supports Aliro, working entirely locally so core access functions continue even without an internet connection.” Like every product in the lineup, it also supports Thread, which Apple says helps it stay connected even if Wi-Fi drops. Products in the collection also update their network credentials automatically if you change your home Wi-Fi.
The release does not explain Aliro beyond that line. As general background, Aliro is an access-control standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the group behind Matter, designed to let phones and wearables work as digital keys across compatible locks and readers.
For buyers, the practical points are clear from Apple’s wording: the lock is built on open standards rather than a closed LG system, and locking and unlocking do not depend on a cloud connection.
Setup, privacy and requirements
Setup starts with a single tap with iPhone, and everything is managed in the Home app with no separate LG app or account. Apple says Home app data is encrypted end-to-end, so LG Electronics, Schneider Electric and Apple cannot read it.
Apple’s fine print says Apple Home Collection accessories require an iPhone running the latest operating system software for NFC pairing. Additional features vary by accessory and require a compatible home hub such as Apple HomeView, HomePod or Apple TV.
If you would rather not fit a deadbolt yourself, Apple Retail now offers third-party installation from ADT for an additional charge, available in the U.S. starting this fall.
“Working closely with Apple, we’ve co-created a more connected, intuitive, and convenient home experience for our customers,” said Kihyun Jung, LG Electronics’ executive vice president.
Who it is for
At $349.95, this is a premium lock. It makes most sense for iPhone and Apple Watch households that already run Apple Home with a hub, and especially for anyone planning to add LG’s Video Doorbell for the combined front-door view. Buyers in the UK will need to look elsewhere for now, since the lock is sold only in the U.S. and Canada.
