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Apple’s rumored smart home robot has reportedly been delayed, with a launch now expected next year at the earliest and possibly not until 2028, according to The Information. The report says the hardware has been finished for about two years, but software development is holding the product back. Apple has not confirmed the device, its name, price or release timing.
Apple’s rumored smart home robot may not launch until 2028, after a software delay pushed its reported release to next year at the earliest, according to The Information. The report says the device’s hardware has been finished for about two years, but its software team has argued for more time to simplify features and focus on video calls and home automation.
The Information reports that the product, internally codenamed J595, has not reached software readiness. The outlet says the software team pushed to delay the launch and tried to reduce the planned feature set, focusing instead on functions related to FaceTime and basic smart-home tasks, such as turning on a light. Apple has not publicly confirmed the project or the reported delay.
The device is said to have a 9-inch display mounted on a swiveling robotic arm, along with cameras and sensors. Those components could let it follow a person during a FaceTime call, according to the report. The design description is not an official specification, and Apple has not announced a product with these features.
The Information also reports that the robot could cost about $1,000, potentially more if prices for RAM and other components rise. Former Apple employees cited in the report expect it could be called “HomeView Ultra,” following the naming of a HomeView smart display said to have launched the previous month. That name and price remain speculation, rather than details confirmed by Apple.
A Costly Test for Apple’s Home Strategy
A delay would leave Apple’s reported robot out of the market for at least several more months, and potentially longer, as the company works on software intended to make a moving display useful in everyday home life. Its reported mix of video calling and home controls would place it in a category where reliability and ease of use matter as much as the hardware design.
The reported price could also shape whether consumers see the device as a practical smart-home hub or an expensive specialty product. At around $1,000, it would represent a substantial purchase compared with a conventional smart display. That matters for Apple’s ability to establish a broader role in the home, but the reported price, features and launch timing have not been confirmed.
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From Home Display to Moving Robot
The reported robot is part of a broader effort by Apple to develop devices for use in the home. The Information’s account links its possible naming to a HomeView smart display that reportedly launched last month. The source material does not provide further confirmed details about that display or establish how the robot would work with it.
In 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman described the rumored robot as a stationary tabletop device resembling Pixar’s lamp character. The newer report from The Information describes a swiveling screen on a robotic arm, with cameras and sensors that could track a user during calls. These reports offer possible design details, not a final product announcement; Apple has not confirmed the device’s existence or specifications.
“The robot’s hardware “has been finished for around two years.””
— The Information, as reported by The Verge
Release Date, Name and Features Remain Open
Apple has not confirmed that it is developing this robot, and it has not announced a release date, price, product name or feature list. The reported schedule—next year at the earliest, possibly 2028—is attributed to The Information and should not be treated as an official commitment.
It is also unclear which planned features would remain if the software team’s reported effort to simplify the product succeeds. The sources do not establish whether the device would move around a room or stay in one place while its arm swivels, how its sensors would operate, or how it would connect to Apple’s other home products. The possible $1,000 price is also an estimate, not a confirmed retail price.
Watch for Apple’s Product Plans
The next concrete update would need to come from Apple, through a product announcement or an official statement confirming the project, its design and release plans. Until then, the timeline and specifications remain media-reported details, and the possible 2028 launch is a forecast rather than a scheduled date.
If the reporting is accurate, software work and decisions about which features to include are the immediate issues to watch. Further reporting may clarify whether Apple can bring the product to market next year or whether development will extend into 2028. No launch event or announcement date has been confirmed.
Key Questions
Has Apple confirmed that it is making a home robot?
No. The robot remains unconfirmed by Apple; the details come from reporting by The Information and related accounts cited by The Verge.
When might the robot launch?
The Information reports that it may arrive next year at the earliest, with 2028 also possible. Apple has not set or announced a release date.
Why has the reported launch been delayed?
The report says the software is not ready, despite the hardware reportedly being finished for about two years. The software team is said to have sought more time and a narrower feature set.
What might the robot do?
Reported capabilities include FaceTime calls, a swiveling display that can follow a user, and basic home automation such as switching on a light. These features have not been confirmed by Apple.
How much could it cost?
The Information puts the possible price at around $1,000 or more, depending in part on component costs. Apple has not announced a price, and the figure is a report-based estimate.
Source: theverge.com
