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Apple’s rumored smart home robot may not launch until 2028, according to a report by The Information cited by The Verge. The reported delay is linked to unfinished software, despite claims that the hardware has been complete for about two years. Apple has not confirmed the device, its features, price or release date.
Apple’s rumored smart home robot may not arrive until 2028, according to The Information, which reports that the device’s software is not ready even though its hardware has reportedly been finished for about two years. Apple has not announced the product or confirmed a launch schedule, so the date remains a report about a project that could still change.
The Information reports that the device’s software team pushed to delay its release and tried to reduce the proposed feature set. The team reportedly wanted to concentrate on a smaller group of functions tied to FaceTime and home automation, including turning on a light. The report does not establish which functions would be included in a shipping product.
The device is reportedly codenamed J595. Former Apple employees cited in the report have predicted it could be called HomeView Ultra, following the naming of a HomeView smart display said to have launched last month. That name is not confirmed by Apple, and the reported product name should be treated as speculation.
The Information describes a device with a 9-inch display attached to a swiveling robotic arm, along with cameras and sensors. Those components could help it orient toward a person during a FaceTime call, according to the reporting. The robot is also said to be priced at about $1,000 or more, with the final cost potentially affected by component prices, including RAM. Apple has not confirmed its design or pricing.
A Longer Wait for Apple’s Home Robot
If the reported delay is accurate, Apple’s effort to bring a moving, camera-equipped device into the home will remain a future prospect rather than an imminent addition to its smart home lineup. The reported focus on video calls and household controls suggests a product that would combine functions associated with a smart display and a home-control device, but the report does not establish how the robot would work in practice.
The potential price also sets expectations. At around $1,000 or higher, the device would be a costly purchase compared with a conventional smart display. A later launch would give Apple more time to refine its software, but could also leave consumers waiting without a confirmed release window or a clear list of capabilities. These are implications of the reported timing and pricing, not announced company plans.
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From Tabletop Concept to Software Delay
The robot has appeared in earlier reporting as a possible Apple home device. In 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said it could use a stationary tabletop design resembling the Pixar lamp. The newer account from The Information describes a swiveling 9-inch screen on a robotic arm, with cameras and sensors. These accounts point to a device designed to move or turn toward people, but Apple has not confirmed that either description reflects its final hardware.
The current report presents a distinction between hardware readiness and software readiness: the hardware is said to have been complete for around two years, while the software team is reportedly seeking more time and a narrower feature set. The report does not explain why development has taken longer, identify a confirmed production schedule or say whether Apple has approved the proposed cuts.
“The robot’s hardware “has been finished for around two years.””
— The Information, as cited by The Verge
Key Product Details Remain Unconfirmed
Apple has not publicly confirmed the robot’s existence, its J595 codename, the possible HomeView Ultra name, its design, its features, its price or any launch date. The 2028 timing is a possibility reported by The Information, not a scheduled release. The report also does not say whether the delay applies to all versions of the device or whether Apple could introduce it earlier with fewer features.
It is also unclear what the reported software problems involve, which functions have been cut or whether the team’s proposed changes have been accepted. No official statement from Apple is included in the source material. Component costs are cited as a possible influence on pricing, but a final price has not been set publicly.
A Launch Date Has Yet to Emerge
The next meaningful update would be an announcement from Apple confirming whether the project will ship and setting out its capabilities, price and timing. Until then, 2028 remains a reported possibility, not a commitment. Further reporting may clarify whether the company is still reducing features, whether software development has advanced and whether the described design will be retained.
For now, consumers should treat the device’s name and specifications as unconfirmed. The source material provides no announced event, preorder date or other specific milestone to watch.
Key Questions
When might Apple’s rumored smart home robot launch?
The Information reports that it could arrive next year at the earliest or be delayed until 2028. Apple has not announced a release date, so the timing is uncertain.
Why is the robot reportedly delayed?
The report says the software is not ready and that the software team sought more time. It also says the team tried to narrow the proposed features, but the specific technical problems have not been reported.
What features could the device have?
The report describes a 9-inch swiveling display, cameras and sensors, with possible uses including FaceTime and home tasks such as switching on a light. Apple has not confirmed these specifications or functions.
Will the robot be called HomeView Ultra?
That name is a prediction attributed to former Apple employees, not an official product name. The device is reportedly codenamed J595, but Apple has not confirmed either name.
How much might the robot cost?
The Information report puts the possible price at about $1,000 or more. This is an estimate, not an announced price, and the report says component costs could affect it.
Source: theverge.com
