Apple reportedly developing Face ID video doorbell
Apple is rumored to be developing a video doorbell featuring Face ID and integration with smart locks, according to a recent report. The potential product would expand Apple's smart home ecosystem and could appeal to consumers concerned with the privacy practices of existing products from competitors like Amazon's Ring. The move signals growing consumer interest in AI-powered home security and automation.
- Apple's existing smart home framework, HomeKit, already includes a service called HomeKit Secure Video, which offers end-to-end encryption for compatible security cameras. Video is analyzed locally on a home hub device like a HomePod or Apple TV, and then securely uploaded to iCloud, where not even Apple can view it. - A key differentiator for an Apple doorbell would be its privacy-centric approach to data. Competitors like Amazon's Ring and Google's Nest have faced public scrutiny over their partnerships with law enforcement and for recovering footage that was supposed to have been deleted. - The global smart home security market was valued at over $72 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to more than $169 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by increasing consumer demand for home automation and security. - Apple has been awarded patents related to smart home technology, including one for a system that could understand a combination of a person's voice commands and facial signals. Another patent describes a security camera capable of scanning both the face and upper body to identify a person. - The rumored doorbell is part of a broader push by Apple into the smart home space, with other potential products including a new HomePod mini, an indoor security camera, and a new home hub device with a screen to serve as a central controller for smart home devices. - To use HomeKit Secure Video, users need a compatible camera, a home hub (like a HomePod or Apple TV), and an iCloud+ storage plan. The number of cameras supported depends on the iCloud+ plan, but the video clips do not count against the storage limit. - An Apple doorbell with Face ID could integrate with HomeKit-compatible smart locks from third-party manufacturers like Aqara or Yale, allowing for automatic unlocking. - The new device would likely be part of the "Apple Home" branding, a name that has been gradually replacing "HomeKit" in Apple's software. It would also likely support the Matter smart home standard, an initiative by Apple, Google, Amazon, and others to improve interoperability between devices.
