Apple's Rumored Robotic Home Display Could Cost $1,000, New Report Says
A new report describes a larger Apple smart home device with a moving nine-inch screen, environmental awareness, and ambitious AI features, though its launch remains uncertain.
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Apple is reportedly developing a more advanced version of its HomeView smart home display, with a robotic arm designed to reposition a nine-inch screen. A November 2 report by Aaron Tilley at The Information, subsequently covered by 9to5Mac and MacRumors, describes a device intended to do more than respond to conventional voice commands.
The reported prototype combines a display with a swiveling mechanism and a collection of cameras and sensors. According to the reporting, Apple wants the device to understand activity in its surroundings and respond autonomously. Potential behaviors include adjusting its position during video calls and activating connected smart home accessories based on events in the room.
The project reportedly began in 2019 under the internal code name J595. Its initial focus was relatively narrow, with video calling among the primary uses. More ambitious artificial intelligence capabilities subsequently expanded the project's scope, transforming what began as a communication device into a proposed robotic home assistant.
The Information's reporting indicates that much of the hardware has been substantially complete for approximately two years. Software development and disagreements over which functions should appear in the first generation have reportedly complicated the release schedule. Apple is said to be targeting a price around $1,000 and hoping for a 2027 introduction, although the product could slip into 2028.
The device has been informally described as HomeView Ultra or HomeView Max, but neither name should be treated as official. Apple has not publicly announced this robotic model, confirmed its specifications, or committed to a release date. The new reporting offers additional detail about the company's alleged robotics ambitions rather than confirming an upcoming commercial launch.