Apple Reportedly Working on Face ID Doorbell That Unlocks Your Home

In a year filled with talk of iPhones and AI upgrades, one of Apple’s most intriguing rumored products isn’t something you hold in your hand.

It’s something that could greet you when you get home.

Multiple reports suggest Apple is developing a smart video doorbell equipped with Face ID, designed to recognize residents and potentially unlock the door automatically. If it arrives, it would mark Apple’s most ambitious step yet into the smart home security space.

The first credible details about the project surfaced in late 2024 from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Back then, he reported Apple was working on “a smart doorbell with advanced facial recognition that wirelessly connects to a deadbolt lock. The idea is that the doorbell could automatically unlock the door for a home’s residents by scanning their face — just like Face ID lets them into their iPhone.”

In simple terms, it would bring the same Face ID technology used on the iPhone to the front door. Unlike most video doorbells that focus on motion alerts and two-way audio, Apple’s rumored device appears aimed at access control, recognizing authorized faces and integrating with compatible smart locks.

Privacy as a selling point

Timing could play in Apple’s favor.

As 9to5Mac noted, recent backlash over Amazon’s Ring ad during the Super Bowl, which highlighted a “Search Party” feature, sparked renewed privacy concerns among some viewers. That has created what 9to5Mac describes as a “unique opportunity” for Apple to enter the category with a privacy-focused message.

Bloomberg previously reported, “Apple believes it has an edge in this area because of its long-stated commitment to privacy. The thinking is that consumers will trust it more than rivals with in-home security footage. The service also could help Apple sell subscriptions to iCloud, where customers would store the video.” 

If the doorbell supports HomeKit Secure Video, as expected, footage would be encrypted and stored within Apple’s ecosystem. That privacy positioning could help Apple stand out against established players like Ring and Google Nest, which already dominate the market.

Part of a bigger home push

The doorbell doesn’t appear to be a standalone experiment.

According to MacRumors, Apple has several home-focused products in development for 2026, including a new HomePod mini, a dedicated home hub, and security cameras.

The rumored home hub is reportedly set to feature Face ID, presence sensing, and an A18 chip to power Apple’s Intelligence features. Two models are reportedly under development: a wall-mounted version and an integrated model into a speaker base. MacRumors reports that Apple’s own security cameras and a Face ID doorbell could arrive later in 2026, though launch timing remains uncertain.

Despite the growing chatter, details are thin, and timelines are fluid. Several reports caution that 2026 is the earliest plausible release window, and Apple has yet to publicly confirm the product.

While you’re tracking Apple’s smart home ambitions, don’t miss how the company’s big Siri AI overhaul has once again hit delays, reshaping expectations for iOS 27 and beyond.

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