Effectively, other HSV-compatible cameras have the option of complete privacy, but users need to proactively enable this. An Apple camera offers a complete privacy guarantee right out of the box. (Of course, Apple could also play hardball, and decline to offer HSV support to future competing cameras, but I’d hope it wouldn’t go that far.)

That said, the native integration Apple would offer might be well worth it for many customers. Both of Amazon's smart camera brands — Blink and Ring — don't currently integrate with Apple HomeKit, and I think the launch of smart Apple cams could cause Blink and Ring sales to drop drastically, despite the potential price difference.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s latest prediction says the Cupertino company is working on an entirely new product: a smart home IP (Internet Protocol) camera. According to Kuo’s post on Medium, the device will go into mass production in 2026.