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Apple’s rumored smart home robot may not arrive until 2027 at the earliest, and could be delayed until 2028, The Information reports. The device’s hardware is said to have been finished for about two years, while its software team is still refining the product. Apple has not confirmed the device, its name, price or release schedule.
Apple’s rumored smart home robot may not launch until 2027 at the earliest, and could slip to 2028, according to a report by The Information cited by The Verge. The reported delay is linked to unfinished software, leaving the product’s release date, features and even its name unconfirmed.
The Information reports that the robot’s hardware has been finished for around two years, but that the software is not ready. The report says the software team has pushed to delay the launch and has tried to narrow the planned feature set. Its reported focus is on FaceTime and home automation, including simple tasks such as turning on a light.
The device is reportedly known internally by the codename J595. Former Apple employees cited by The Information predict it could be called “HomeView Ultra,” following the HomeView smart display, which The Verge’s report says launched last month. That name is speculation, not a confirmed Apple product name.
The Information describes a device with a 9-inch display on a swiveling robotic arm, alongside cameras and sensors intended to support functions such as following a person during a FaceTime call. The Verge also cited Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s 2024 description of a stationary, tabletop design resembling Pixar’s lamp character. These design details come from reporting, not an Apple announcement.
A Delayed Bet on the Smart Home
A delay would leave Apple’s reported effort to build a more capable home device on hold while the company works out what the product can reliably do. The reported attempt to reduce its features suggests that software readiness, rather than a lack of hardware progress, is the immediate obstacle. If the account is accurate, Apple is weighing a narrower launch against waiting until more of the planned experience works.
Price could also shape the device’s appeal. The Information’s report puts the possible cost at around $1,000, potentially more if prices for RAM and other components rise. That figure is an estimate, not a confirmed price. At that level, consumers would need to see a clear benefit over a smart display or other home devices; the report does not establish what Apple would ultimately include to justify the cost.
For now, readers should treat the timing and product details as a picture of a project in development, not a launch plan. A delay to 2028 would mean waiting longer to learn whether Apple’s reported combination of a movable display, video calls and home controls will become a product.
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From J595 to a Possible HomeView
The project has appeared in earlier reporting, but Apple has not publicly confirmed it. In 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the robot could use a stationary tabletop design reminiscent of a lamp. The newer account attributed to The Information adds a 9-inch swiveling screen and describes the software team’s effort to reduce the proposed feature set.
The reported “HomeView Ultra” name draws on the HomeView smart display, which The Verge says launched last month. The Information’s account says former Apple employees expect the robot to carry that name, but it does not establish that Apple has adopted it. Nor does the reporting confirm whether the robot would work as a standalone product or require other Apple devices and services.
“The robot’s hardware “has been finished for around two years.””
— The Information, as cited by The Verge
Release Date and Features Remain Open
Apple has not confirmed the robot’s existence, so the reported 2027-or-2028 timing is not an official schedule. The account does not specify which year is more likely, when Apple might announce the device, or whether development could change the timeline again.
The product’s final name, design, capabilities and price are also unsettled. The possible $1,000 price is a report-based estimate, and the HomeView Ultra name is attributed to former employees’ expectations. It is also unclear which of the reported FaceTime and home-automation features would make it into a release version, or whether Apple would keep the robotic arm and tracking functions described in the report.
Software Work Before a Launch
The next reported milestone is the completion of the software work needed to support the robot’s intended functions. The Information’s account suggests Apple’s team is still refining the feature list, but it gives no target date for finishing that work or for a public announcement.
Until Apple comments or a later report provides firmer details, the launch window and specifications should be treated as provisional. Any announcement, pricing or availability information would clarify whether the device is still planned for 2027 or has moved to 2028.
Key Questions
When could Apple’s rumored home robot launch?
The Information reports a launch may come in 2027 at the earliest, or possibly in 2028. Apple has not confirmed a release date.
Why is the robot reportedly delayed?
The report says the software is not ready, even though the hardware has reportedly been finished for around two years. It says the software team has pushed to delay the launch while narrowing the planned features.
What might the device do?
Reported features include FaceTime and home automation, such as switching on a light. The Information also describes a swiveling display, cameras and sensors that could help the device follow someone during a call. Apple has not confirmed these details.
Will it be called HomeView Ultra, and how much might it cost?
“HomeView Ultra” is a name former Apple employees reportedly predict, not a confirmed product name. The Information puts the possible price at around $1,000 or more, but Apple has not announced pricing.
Source: theverge.com
