Apple could enter a new product segment in 2026 with the launch of a smart home IP camera that lets users keep an eye on things when they’re away. The company is seemingly looking to start mass production two years from now.
The smart home camera should integrate seamlessly with other devices in Apple’s ecosystem.
Smart home IP camera from Apple coming in 2026?
Apple typically takes a long time to enter a new product category. When it does, the product usually seems notably better than the competition — and stands out for its deep integration with other Apple products. This year, the company launched the Vision Pro, its first product in a new category in years. The next big Apple product seemingly will be a smart home IP camera.
In a note published Monday on Medium, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple’s smart home camera is set for mass production in 2026. Goertek apparently will exclusively assemble the product. This is the first time rumors of Apple working on a smart home camera have popped up.
The camera will connect to other Apple devices wirelessly. In the long term, the Cupertino company expects to ship more than 10 million units yearly. The analyst thinks the “user experience will be significantly enhanced by Apple’s great ecosystem and deep integration with Apple Intelligence and Siri.”
Google and Amazon are the two major players in the smart home camera market. The former sells its devices under the Nest brand, while Amazon forayed into the market with its Ring acquisition.
Future AirPods to feature health tracking
In the same note, Kuo said Apple is focusing on adding health management features to the next version of AirPods. Goertek is involved in this, too. The new features could boost AirPods’ growth, increasing shipments from 48 million in 2023 to 65 million to 68 million in 2026, according to Kuo.
Rumors about Apple working on health tracking features for AirPods, like steps tracking and heart rate measurement, have been circulating for years. A recent report even said Apple might launch AirPods with IR cameras in 2025.
Like the Apple smart home IP camera, Goertek will serve as the primary supplier for these health-enhanced AirPods, according to Kuo. By securing orders for two key Apple products, Kuo thinks Goertek’s business will receive a significant boost in 2025 and the years after that.
