Apple’s HomeView Ultra is reportedly planned for 2027, though the release could slip to 2028. The robotic model would cost around $1,000, more than three times the $299 price of the current HomeView.
Aaron Tilley from The Information reported that Apple’s first robot has a 9-inch screen on a swiveling arm and a design that resembles the Pixar lamp. Apple has not announced the device, and HomeView Ultra is a placeholder name alongside HomeView Max and HomeView 360.
HomeView Ultra Would Cost More Than Three Times the HomeView
The $299 HomeView ships November 13 with a 7-inch square display on a stainless steel hinge that only tilts the screen. The robotic model adds a larger 9-inch screen and an arm that swivels it, and it is expected to cost around $1,000.
Mark Gurman placed the robotic arm model in 2027 or 2028 earlier in October, so the new reporting keeps the same window. A June 2026 smart home roadmap had already flagged the risk of the robot slipping into 2028.
Gurman describes the arm model as a premium option, not a direct successor to the HomeView. It would not replace the $299 model, which also comes in a wall-mounted version at the same price, with the wall mount sold separately starting at $59.95. Apple’s internal codename for the arm model is J595.
The Screen Turns 360 Degrees Toward Whoever Is Talking
The arm rotates the display a full 360 degrees, and voice recognition steers it toward the person who is speaking. The current HomeView leaves that job to you, since the screen can only be angled up or down on its base. HomeView does recognize up to six people by face and shows each of them a personal Home Screen, and its Center Stage camera keeps people framed during FaceTime calls, but the display itself stays where you put it.
The lamp comparison is not new for Apple. Its research team showed an expressive robot lamp in early 2025, a prototype that closely resembles Pixar’s Luxo Jr. and moves in response to the person using it.
Software Disagreements Are Slowing the Robot Down
Apple’s new CEO John Ternus wants the company to get serious about robots, yet the first one it hopes to sell has been slow to come together. Internal disagreements over its software are part of the problem, and the release could move to 2028.
Apple’s tabletop robot has been rumored for 2027 since August 2025.
