Renting? These 2 new Apple smart home devices are worth your money (and these 5 are not)

Apple recently introduced a handful of new smart home products, with its first smart panel, the HomeView; a new HomePod mini; an Apple TV 4K; and a complete Home Collection with nine smart home devices. Starting at $40 for smart sensors and up to $400 for security cameras, the Apple Home Collection is not exactly budget-friendly, but could it still be right for renters?

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As a homeowner with a mix of smart home ecosystems (including Apple Home), I often wonder about the audience companies intend to target with these kinds of devices. I’ve been a renter myself, and I know how creative you have to be with your smart home setup, given landlord and lease restrictions.

Good for renters: LG’s Indoor Cam

The LG Indoor Cam is a pan/tilt security camera that looks quite different from comparable options, and has a unique privacy feature. Unlike most indoor cameras that require you to either manually activate privacy mode or set a schedule for it, the Apple Home app triggers it automatically when you come home. While Apple doesn’t specify exactly what triggers this action, it’s likely that it happens based on an iPhone’s location and proximity.

There’s no question that, at $200, the LG Indoor Cam is expensive. There are other indoor cameras with privacy features available, even if they go into privacy mode on a schedule, that are far more affordable and may offer better features, including the $60 Anker Eufy E220, the $140 Anker Eufy S350, and the $99 Aqara Camera Hub G3.

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The camera itself is attractive and non-descript, resembling a tabletop lamp and breaking away from the usual pan/tilt form factor. It’s great for renters because you don’t have to mount it on a wall (although you can if that’s an option). It also supports AI video search and, with built-in storage, can continue recording during Wi-Fi outages.

Good for renters: LG Outdoor Cam

Apple/ZDNET

The LG Outdoor Cam from the Apple Home Collection can work for renters since it’s a plug-in camera; there’s no need to hardwire or replace existing light fixtures, as you have to with the Floodlight Cam.

The Outdoor Cam Plug-in supports 2.5K resolution, color and IR night vision, detection of people, pets, packages, and vehicles, person recognition, and AI-powered video search and descriptions.

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This camera can be set up as a bullet camera or tilted downward at an angle. Like Eufy and Reolink cameras, the LG Outdoor Cam can record without Wi-Fi, ensuring you don’t lose important features when the Wi-Fi is out.

At $300, the LG Outdoor Cam follows the same pricing pattern as the rest of the Apple Home Collection. There are more affordable options, however, including the $60 Tapo MagCam and the Blink Outdoor 4, both of which are battery-powered for easier installation in rental properties.

Not so great for renters

Some of the products below aren’t ideal for most renters unless your lease terms are somewhat flexible. If you can get creative with setups, you could still use most of these products in a rental property, but I strongly suggest checking your lease before any installations.

I’ve compiled the remaining Apple Home Collection products with information on what makes them stand out, as well as pricing data, for whom they’re best suited, why they may not be ideal for renters, and some renter-friendly alternatives:

FAQ

Who is Apple’s target audience for the Home Collection?

Apple is appealing to loyalists with its Home Collection. The people who’ve already invested in the Apple ecosystem are the ones Apple wants to buy the Home Collection from. If you already own an iPhone, Apple Watch, HomePod, or an Apple TV device, you can manage new accessories from the same app without downloading a third-party application.

How secure are Apple’s smart home devices?

Apple is ensuring that most AI runs on-device for its new smart home products and that, if this isn’t possible, data goes only through Private Cloud Compute. Apple ensures the company cannot access your footage and emphasizes end-to-end encryption, as well as physical privacy features like those of the LG Indoor Cam.

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With HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV), users enjoy intelligent detection, facial recognition, 10 days of recording history with an iCloud+ subscription (though this doesn’t count toward your storage capacity), Apple Home integration with Siri AI descriptions, and local video analysis.

What cameras are compatible with HKSV?

All new LG cameras in the Apple Home Collection are compatible with HKSV, but older cameras also support it. HKSV isn’t new or exclusive to the LG cameras. You can also use it with certain Aqara, Eve, Logitech, Eufy, and Netatmo cameras.

Maria Diaz is a staff writer with a passion for home automation, smart home devices, and tablets. With a background in graphic design, photography, and filmmaking, she has a bachelor’s in Mass Communication and experience in journalism and film.

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