Apple reportedly develops robotic home hub with mechanical arm

Apple is reportedly developing a new home automation device, internally referred to as HomeView Ultra or Max. The device features a 9-inch display mounted on a motorized, rotating arm, bearing a resemblance to the design of the iMac G4. The hardware is designed to facilitate video calls and utilize sensors to detect movement, allowing for autonomous tasks such as lighting control or basic home monitoring.

While the hardware design for the unit has been largely finalized for two years, sources suggest that internal disagreements at Apple have delayed the project. The dispute reportedly concerns which software features should be included in the initial launch versus later iterations. Apple is currently weighing the complexity of the feature set before moving to mass production.

The target retail price for the unit is expected to be approximately $1,000, with a potential market release between 2027 and 2028. Beyond this desktop robotic unit, the company has also explored various experimental household robotics concepts, including mobile wheeled platforms, drones, and laundry-folding assistants, though none of these are confirmed for commercial release.