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Apple’s rumored smart home robot has reportedly been delayed, with a launch now expected no earlier than 2027 and possibly not until 2028, according to The Information. The report says the hardware has been finished for about two years, while software work and a narrower set of features remain in progress. Apple has not announced the device or confirmed its timing, price or final name.
Apple has reportedly delayed its rumored smart home robot until 2027 at the earliest, with a launch in 2028 also possible, according to a report by The Information cited by The Verge. The reported delay is tied to unfinished software, despite the robot’s hardware having been completed for about two years, and could push back Apple’s plans for a more capable home device.
The Information reports that the product’s software team has sought more time and tried to reduce the proposed feature set. The team reportedly wants to focus the device on a smaller number of functions, including FaceTime and home automation tasks such as switching on a light. The report does not identify a firm launch date or say when Apple might decide that the software is ready.
The device is reportedly codenamed J595. Former Apple employees cited in The Information speculate that it could be named HomeView Ultra, following the HomeView smart display, which the supplied report says launched last month. That name is speculation, not a confirmed product name. The robot could cost around $1,000 or more, according to the reporting, with component costs including RAM potentially affecting the price.
The Information describes a device with a 9-inch display mounted on a swiveling robotic arm, plus cameras and sensors. Those components could allow it to orient itself toward a person during a FaceTime call. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously described a stationary tabletop design resembling the lamp from Pixar films. These design details come from reporting and have not been confirmed by Apple.
A Delay for Apple’s Home Push
A later launch would leave consumers waiting longer to learn whether Apple can turn its smart home ambitions into a product that combines a display, video calls and household controls. The reported software setback also suggests that having the device’s physical components ready is not enough: the core experience and the way the robot responds to people still need work.
Price could also shape how widely the device is adopted. A reported cost of about $1,000 or more would put it at a premium level for a home device, although neither the price nor the product itself has been announced. Until Apple confirms its plans, shoppers and developers cannot know what capabilities, release schedule or ecosystem support to expect.
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From Tabletop Concept to Robot
The robot has been described in earlier reporting as a stationary tabletop device rather than a machine that moves around the home. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in 2024 that its design could resemble a Pixar-style lamp. The newer description from The Information adds a swiveling arm, a 9-inch screen and sensors intended to help it follow a person’s position during a video call.
The reported product would sit alongside Apple’s HomeView smart display, which the supplied account says launched last month. The reported “HomeView Ultra” name would suggest a connection between the two products, but former employees’ predictions do not establish that Apple has settled on it. The reporting points to a narrower software focus than the robot’s proposed feature set, but gives no public product roadmap or confirmed comparison of the robot and the display.
“The robot’s hardware “has been finished for around two years.””
— The Information, as cited by The Verge
Launch Date and Product Plans
Apple has not publicly confirmed the robot, its specifications, its name, its price or a launch window. The 2027 and 2028 dates are reported possibilities, not a company schedule. It is also unclear whether the software team’s reported effort to cut features has settled the product’s intended capabilities, or whether more changes could affect the design or release timing.
The hardware and pricing details remain unverified by Apple. The reported price could change, and the source material does not establish how much higher than $1,000 the final cost might be or which components would account for any increase. The relationship between the robot and the HomeView display is likewise not confirmed.
Waiting for an Apple Announcement
The next firm milestone would be an announcement from Apple confirming that the robot is in development, or providing a launch window and product details. Until then, the reported schedule remains subject to change, particularly because the account describes software work as the reason for the delay. Apple has not provided a public timeline in the material cited by The Verge.
Further reporting may clarify whether the company plans to keep the device’s broader proposed features, how it will work with other smart home products and what it will cost. For now, the clearest reported development is that software readiness is holding up the launch, while an arrival before 2027 is not expected in the cited account.
Key Questions
When might Apple’s rumored home robot launch?
The Information reports that it could arrive in 2027 at the earliest, or possibly in 2028. Apple has not confirmed a release date.
Why has the robot reportedly been delayed?
The report says the software is not ready. The team has reportedly asked for more time and tried to narrow the planned features.
What might the robot do?
Reported functions include FaceTime and controlling home tasks such as switching on a light. The Information also describes a swiveling screen, cameras and sensors, but Apple has not confirmed those 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 name. The reported price is around $1,000 or more, but Apple has announced no price.
Source: theverge.com
