Apple’s Home Robot Targets 2027, Could Slip to 2028

Apple is developing a higher-end home robot with a swiveling display, cameras and sensors, according to reporting on the company’s J595 project. The device, which could be marketed as HomeView Ultra, is targeted for release in 2027, though development delays could push its launch to 2028. Apple has not announced the product or confirmed its name, specifications or schedule. The reported design includes a display of about nine inches mounted on an arm that can swivel to follow people in a room. Cameras and sensors would help the robot track users, navigate around objects and respond to activity in the home, including turning on lights when someone enters a room. The device is also being developed to support FaceTime calls while moving autonomously. The Information’s reporting, repeated in several accounts, places the expected price at around or above $1,000. That target could change depending on component costs. The reports describe a product under development, not a confirmed price or a commitment to bring it to market on a particular date. The project reportedly began in 2019 under the codename J595. Its initial purpose was more focused on video calls, but Apple later sought...