Apples new Home products will challenge a long-standing Apple rule, heres why
Apple is finally getting serious about the smart home, with three new Home products launching in 2025 and several more after that. Excited as I am for this new Home momentum, it also reminds me of a long-standing Apple rule that could be challenged by this lineup of new products.New Home products coming soon from AppleMark Gurman has reported that 2025 kicks off a big new focus from Apple on its Home products.The new year will bring:HomePad, a new smart displayHomePod mini 2plus an Apple TV 4K revisionThen in 2026 and beyond, Apple will reportedly launch its own smart home camera and a video doorbell with smart lock integration.If these various products prove successful, we could see even more Home debuts in the futurehopefully including a revived AirPort router.All of this sounds great to me. Ive long wished Apple would dedicate more resources toward its Home lineup.But these plans also raise an interesting question.What happened to a thousand nos for every yes?Apples long-standing product rule in questionFor as long as I can remember, Apple has had a key design principle: there are a thousand nos for every yes.These exact words were highlighted by the company in a video that kicked off WWDC 2013. Theyve also been used at various points internally and externally to demonstrate a basic principle: focus matters.Apple would rather make a few really great products than a whole bunch of just-good ones.Despite being one of the most successful companies in the world, Apple still has limited resources. The more it says yes to, the more its focus is split.Which makes me curious about the companys decision to say yes to creating its own smart home camera and doorbell products.Home camera and doorbell represent big new direction for AppleApples forthcoming HomePad is a brand new product category, but in my mind at least, it fits in well with the companys existing Home products.HomePad should pair nicely with the HomePod and Apple TV as a device for interacting with Siri and viewing content.The forthcoming smart camera and doorbell, however, feel like a different beast.Historically Apple has shied away from making its own HomeKit accessories. Things like light bulbs, thermostats, smart locks, garage door openers, and more.Yet now, a smart camera and doorbell are on the way to change that.Im thrilled for these products to arrive, as I expect theyll make compelling alternatives to the existing third-party options. Especially if youre deep in the Apple ecosystem.But if Apples going deeper into making smart home accessories, will we see Apple light bulbs in the future? Smart air purifiers? I doubt it. But Im also unsure how the company is deciding which products to tackle itself, and which to leave to third parties.I want as many Home products from Apple as possible. But Im also mindful that the company cant do everything. A camera and doorbell will likely take advantage of a lot of existing Apple tech, so maybe thats why theyre coming. But there are plenty of unanswered questions heading into this new era for Apples Home division.What do you think of Apple expanding its Home product lineup? Let us know in the comments.Best HomeKit smart home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel