Tapo Smart Cameras Compatible with Apple HomeKit
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An Apple supplier may have been tapped to build an Apple-designed smart home camera and future health-focused AirPods, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
After Apple scrapped the decade-long Apple Car project, rumors swirled that Apple would increase its investment in the smart home and AI. While Apple Intelligence was published, there was little evidence of Apple's new commitment to the smart home beyond rumors of a smart monitor.
A new supply chain-based rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that an Apple supplier named Goertek has received orders for two products due in 2026. The first is a smart home camera, and the second is a set of AirPods with more health-focused features.
Apple previously relied on Goertek for assembly, but compliance issues led the company to recall the orders. Kuo claims that the relationship has normalized in the second half of 2024, leading to new orders for the products.
Apple makes its first move into the smart home IP camera market, mass production planned for 2026, annual shipments will amount to tens of millions. https://t.co/yOc2z98OBq
— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) November 12, 2024
Since HomeKit launched in 2014, Apple has kept a low profile and only provided APIs and protocols for the smart home. The closest products to the smart home category are the HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K.
There have been previous rumors that Apple could be working on its own smart home products, such as light bulbs, but these have never materialized. Apple has even abandoned the development of its own routers since HomeKit鈥檚 inception, seemingly signaling a desire to rely on third-party hardware.
That could change in 2026 with the arrival of an Apple-made smart home camera. It鈥檚 unclear what Apple could offer from existing HomeKit Secure Video cameras, especially given how HomeKit already takes over third-party cameras.
Kuo believes that Apple sees IP cameras as a major target for future growth. The overall market for these cameras is around 30-40 million per year, with Apple targeting around 10 million shipments.
AirPods Pro 2 have hearing aid capabilities
The smart camera鈥檚 target date of 2026 coincides with the expected wider adoption of Matter-enabled cameras. That, and Apple is expected to enter more smart home accessory markets over time.
Another growth opportunity for Apple is wearables, and that鈥檚 where AirPods come in. Goertek has apparently been chosen as the future primary supplier of the health-focused AirPods.
The iPhone continues to be Apple鈥檚 biggest revenue generator, and there鈥檚 a good chance no other product will come close. So Apple hopes to please investors by selling more devices in more categories, covering smaller but still lucrative markets.
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