Apple is building a $1,000 tabletop robot with a swiveling screen, report says
The device, possibly called HomeView Ultra, could arrive in 2027 or slip to 2028, according to The Information.
Apple is developing a home robot with a screen on a moving arm that could cost about $1,000, according to a report Monday by the tech news site The Information, as summarized by Ars Technica and MacRumors. Apple has not announced the product.
The device is code-named J595 and could be sold as HomeView Ultra, the report said. That name would tie it to HomeView, Apple's new smart display that sits in one place.
What it would do
The robot has a 9-inch screen mounted on an arm that can swivel and tilt, according to MacRumors' summary of the report. Cameras and sensors would let it turn to follow a person during a FaceTime video call. It could also handle simple home tasks, such as switching on lights when someone walks into a room, Ars Technica reported.
Today, a smart display like Amazon's Echo Show or Google's Nest Hub sits still and can only zoom its camera. Apple's device would physically move to keep you in view.
Why it's taking so long
The first prototypes date to 2018, the report said. Apple is aiming for 2027, but software delays could push the launch to 2028. One source told The Information the team has only about 10 "true roboticists," alongside roughly 300 software workers.
Apple CEO John Ternus is backing the project, along with a separate effort on robots that could do chores like folding laundry, according to the report.
Why it matters
Apple has rarely sold products that move on their own. Rivals and startups, including Bay Area humanoid makers like Figure AI, are racing to put robots in homes. The question for Apple is whether shoppers will pay $1,000 for a device that mainly makes video calls and controls lights.
Source: Reporting by The Information, as summarized by Ars Technica and MacRumors, Nov. 2, 2026.