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The Information reports that Apple has postponed its rumored smart home robot, with a release now expected no earlier than next year and possibly in 2028. The report says the hardware is finished but the software is not ready; Apple has not confirmed the product, its timing, features or price.
Apple’s rumored smart home robot has reportedly been delayed and may not launch until 2028, according to The Information, which says the device’s hardware is finished but its software is not ready. Apple has not announced the product or confirmed a release date, leaving its eventual features and price uncertain.
The Information reports that Apple’s software team pushed to postpone the launch and tried to reduce the planned feature set. The team reportedly wanted to focus the device on a smaller number of functions, including FaceTime and basic home automation such as switching on a light. The report does not establish that these features will appear in a final product.
The project is reportedly codenamed J595. The Information describes a device with a roughly 9-inch swiveling display mounted on a robotic arm, with cameras and sensors that could let it follow a person during a FaceTime call. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported in 2024 that the robot might use a stationary tabletop design resembling a Pixar lamp. These are reported descriptions, not specifications confirmed by Apple.
The Information places the possible price at around $1,000, or potentially more, depending in part on the cost of RAM and other components. Former Apple employees cited in the report have predicted the name “HomeView Ultra,” linking it to Apple’s recently launched HomeView smart display. Neither that name nor the reported price has been confirmed by the company.
A Delay Could Reset Home Plans
A launch pushed into 2028 would leave Apple’s reported home robot outside the near-term plans readers might infer from descriptions of its finished hardware. The reported holdup is software, not a lack of a physical prototype: the device may need more time before its interface and home functions are ready for customers.
The reported effort to narrow the feature list also matters. A product centered on video calls and basic automation could have a different role from a more capable home assistant, although the final scope is unknown. A possible price near $1,000 would also position it as a costly addition to a household, making the exact capabilities and launch timing key questions for prospective buyers.
For now, consumers should treat the robot as a reported project rather than an announced product. Apple has not publicly committed to shipping it, and a reported schedule that extends to 2028 is not a launch promise.
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From J595 to HomeView Ultra
The latest account builds on earlier reporting about a mobile or swiveling display for the home. In 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman described a possible tabletop device with a screen on a robotic arm, comparing its shape to the lamp associated with Pixar. The Information’s newer description adds a screen size, cameras and sensors, while also reporting that the project’s software is holding up a release.
The proposed “HomeView Ultra” name comes from former Apple employees quoted in the report, not from Apple. The report says a HomeView smart display launched last month, but it does not provide enough information here to establish that the robot is officially part of that product line. The naming connection and the robot’s relationship to the display therefore remain predictions.
“The robot’s hardware “has been finished for around two years.””
— The Information, as quoted by The Verge
Apple Has Confirmed No Launch Plan
Apple has not publicly confirmed the existence of J595, the “HomeView Ultra” name, the reported design, its features, a price or a release window. The Information’s account gives a range of possible timing—no earlier than next year and potentially in 2028—but does not establish which year Apple might choose or whether the project will ship at all.
It is also unclear which reported capabilities would survive any software changes, how the device would work with other smart-home products, or whether component costs would materially affect its price. The accounts do not say when Apple might make a decision about the project or provide a public announcement.
Watch for Software and Timing Updates
The next useful indicator would be a further report or an announcement from Apple clarifying whether the project remains in development and when it might be ready. Until then, the reported 2027-or-2028 window, the feature list and the estimated price should be treated as unconfirmed.
If Apple does move toward release, more details would be needed on the robot’s software, home-automation compatibility, privacy features and final cost. No launch event, preorder date or confirmed product specifications have been announced in the source material.
Key Questions
When might Apple’s rumored home robot launch?
The Information reports that it may arrive next year at the earliest or possibly in 2028. Apple has not confirmed a date.
Why has the device reportedly been delayed?
The report says the hardware has been finished for around two years but the software is not ready. It says the software team pushed for a delay and tried to narrow the planned features.
What might the robot do?
Reported possibilities include FaceTime and basic home automation, such as switching on a light. The Information also describes cameras and sensors that could let a swiveling display follow someone during a call. Apple has not confirmed these functions.
How much might Apple’s robot cost?
The Information reports a possible price of about $1,000, potentially higher depending on component costs. Apple has not announced a price.
Has Apple confirmed the name HomeView Ultra?
No. The name is a prediction attributed to former Apple employees. The project is reportedly codenamed J595, but Apple has not confirmed either name publicly.
Source: theverge.com
