Apple
Apple is reportedly pushing deeper into personal robotics with plans to launch a tabletop robotic smart home device equipped with a swiveling display, a report by The Information has claimed, adding that this particular device is slated to arrive in either 2027 or 2028 with an estimated price tag around $1,000 in the US.
” the final retail branding remains unconfirmed While rumoured monikers have floated names like “HomeView Ultra” or “HomeView Max. The project essentially represents a motorized evolution of the HomeView smart display.
Hardware ready, software delays debut
A working prototype of the tabletop companion features a 9-inch display mounted atop an articulated mechanical arm, the report said. Notably, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has already reported that the 9-inch screen is capable of swiveling a full 360 degrees. Retail pricing is targeted at approximately $1,000.
Because of those deliberations, Apple is targeting an initial release window in 2027, though the rollout could slide into 2028. Citing sources, The Information noted its silhouette draws visual cues from classic tech and animation icons – specifically Apple’s hemispherical iMac G4 and Pixar’s famous hopping desk lamp mascot. The robot may also trigger room lights automatically when someone walks through a doorway, or even attempt to shoo a pet cat down from a dining table. Furthermore, built-in safeguards are meant to ensure the moving display avoids striking nearby mugs, dishes, or decorative objects while turning. software development has slowed the product’s path to market, the report points out While the physical chassis and mechanical systems have largely been locked down for about two years. Internal disagreements have surfaced inside Apple regarding the device’s feature scope. Teams continue to debate which software capabilities should ship on day one versus which complex features should be held back for a second-generation model that is already under early discussion. The tabletop display is not the only concept engineers in Cupertino have tested. Apple has explored several experimental robotic form factors for domestic use, including: