Apple Home's new security camera features cost up to $60 per month

Apple Home has received a major update with iOS 27 and tvOS 27, which brings AI-powered video summaries and search capabilities to the HomeKit Secure Video system. This new feature allows you to get short text descriptions of what was seen in camera footage and combine footage from multiple cameras into a single clip, making it easier to monitor your home without constantly having to watch footage. However, these features are only available with an additional paid plan, as The Verge explains in detail.

Apple Intelligence pricing

According to The Verge, to use the AI-powered features, you need to purchase an iCloud Plus plan — 2TB for $9.99 per month or Apple One Premier for $39.95 per month — which gives you access to a single camera feed. Adding a second camera costs $29.99 per month for a 6TB plan, and up to five cameras costs $59.99 per month for a 12TB plan. This is a significant increase from the previous HomeKit Secure Video paid service, which started at $1 per month for a 50GB plan that included one camera, smart alerts, and facial recognition.

Comparative prices in the market

The Verge also noted that other market leaders like Amazon Ring and Google Nest offer similar AI features for around $20 per month, and their offerings include more extensive functionality. This raises questions about Apple’s pricing competitiveness, especially when consumers already pay $40 per month for Apple One Premier, which provides 2TB of iCloud storage and HomeKit Secure Video support for five cameras. To get Apple Intelligence for all five cameras, you’d have to pay an additional $60 per month, which comes to $720 per year and $1,200 per year in total.

Technical improvements and limitations

Business technology, computers and tablets

While the prices are high, Apple has also updated its core HomeKit Secure Video service, with under-the-hood improvements that improve speed, reliability, and add support for 4K video. These updates don’t affect existing features, but only apply to those who opt in to the new Apple Intelligence capabilities. Additionally, recording storage for HomeKit-connected cameras doesn’t count against iCloud storage quota, so users can use a larger storage plan just for AI features.

Security context and the development of the Apple ecosystem

Another important piece of context is Apple’s September 15, 2026 iTnews report on iOS 27 and macOS 27 security updates, which mentions that Apple has tightened security boundaries around Apple Intelligence. While this source doesn’t specifically discuss camera pricing, it does indicate that Apple is investing in AI-related security solutions, including improved governance and the ability to restrict the use of AI features through enterprise management tools.

Conclusions

Apple Home’s new AI features offer significant convenience and technological advantages, but their pricing—up to $60 per month for five cameras—raises questions about value. Consumers who already pay for Apple One Premier face a significant additional cost jump if they want full AI functionality for all of their cameras. Compared to competitors, Apple’s pricing seems disproportionate, although the technical improvements and security measures may be important for those who value the integrity of Apple’s ecosystem and privacy guarantees.

Apple's Home security camera features truly bring a new level of AI, but the final decision will depend on consumers' willingness to invest in these services.

Sources

IT SERVICES

Let's transform technology real results for your business.

We help companies apply artificial intelligence, automation, internet systems, and other digital solutions to real business processes.