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Renting? These 2 new Apple smart home devices are worth your money (and these 5 are not)
Eyeing Apple's new Home Collection products? Renters should check their lease agreement before installing.
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?
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.
Also: Apple’s smart home event: All 7 devices, prices, and release dates
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which products in the Apple Home Collection actually are renter-friendly, and which devices I wouldn’t recommend investing in.
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.
Also: How to fix Wi-Fi dead zones using your home’s electrical wiring – no drilling required
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.
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.