Apple is developing a robotic HomeView device with a nine-inch screen on a swiveling arm, Aaron Tilley of The Information reports, as described by Ryan Christoffel at 9to5Mac and Joe Rossignol at MacRumors. Tilley's report compares its appearance to Pixar's lamp.
The proposed design uses a camera and sensors to recognize its surroundings and act autonomously, according to a passage quoted by 9to5Mac. It envisions the robot turning on lights when someone enters a room and avoiding objects nearby. Those are design goals, not features shown to work in the reporting.
Much of the hardware has been finished for around two years, but software work is holding up the device, 9to5Mac reports. MacRumors describes internal disagreements over which software features should arrive with the first version and which could wait for a second.
Apple hopes to launch the robot in 2027, though the launch could move to 2028, 9to5Mac reports. MacRumors puts the estimated U.S. price around $1,000; 9to5Mac says component prices could push it higher. MacRumors calls “HomeView Ultra” and “HomeView Max” rumored names and says the final name could differ.
