Apple is reportedly developing a premium smart-home controller called the HomeView Ultra, or potentially HomeView Max, built around a 9-inch touchscreen attached to a motorized robotic arm. The device could be announced in 2027 and carry an estimated price of about $1,000, although a commercial launch may slip into 2028 as Apple continues software development.
According to The Information, the design would continue the iMac G4-inspired approach of the recently introduced HomeView, but add a display that can automatically turn toward the person using it. A camera and multiple sensors could allow the hub to monitor activity around it and respond without a direct command, such as turning on lights when someone enters a room.
Those sensors would also be intended to help the moving arm avoid nearby objects. The report suggests the system could identify situations around the home, including attempting to keep a cat off a table, though the final behavior and software capabilities have not been confirmed.
Apple is also said to be experimenting with several more ambitious home-robotics concepts:
- A wheeled robot designed to follow a user around the home.
- A drone intended for indoor use.
- A robot capable of folding laundry.
None of those projects has a reported release timetable, and it remains unclear which, if any, will become commercial products. For HomeView Ultra, the key remaining question is whether Apple can complete the software work in time for its reported 2027 announcement target.
