Apple's rumored smart home robot, expected to be called the HomeView Ultra, may not arrive until 2027 at the earliest and could slip to 2028, according to reports from The Information cited by The Verge and Ars Technica. The device, codenamed J595, is said to be a tabletop hub with a swiveling 9-inch display mounted on a robotic arm.
The delay is reportedly a software problem, not a hardware one. The Information says the robot's hardware "has been finished for around two years," while the software team has pushed back the launch and tried to strip features down to basics like FaceTime calls and automating home tasks such as switching on a light. The delay matters because it signals how hard Apple is finding it to turn robotics into a product people will actually buy.
Apple HomeView Ultra specs and price rumors
Reports point to a 9-inch display that swivels on a robotic arm, with cameras and sensors designed to follow you around during a FaceTime call. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in 2024 that the robot could take a stationary, tabletop form resembling Pixar's famous lamp. The Information says the device could cost around $1,000, and possibly more, depending on price hikes for RAM and other components.
One detail stands out: the price. The HomeView Ultra is expected to sell for significantly more than Apple's new HomeView smart display, which launched last month. Apple has not confirmed any of this, so treat the name, price and design as leaks rather than official plans.
- Name: reportedly HomeView Ultra, codenamed J595
- Design: tabletop unit with a 9-inch display on a swiveling robotic arm
- Features: FaceTime support, cameras and sensors that follow you, automatic lighting control
