Apple's first robot could slip to 2028 as software lags behind the hardware
What's the deal? Apple's first robot — a tabletop device codenamed J595 and expected to be called the HomeView Ultra — could be delayed until 2028 as the company struggles to get its software ready, according to a report from The InformationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Priced at around $1,000, the robot features a 9-inch swiveling display on a robotic arm, packed with cameras and sensors for interactive FaceTime calls.
Why the delay? The hardware has been ready for nearly two years, but Apple is still ironing out software problems. The team is focused on making FaceTime work smoothly and getting basic tasks like light control right before release.
What's the endgame? The robot is meant to anchor the premium tier of Apple's smart-home push, backed by chief executive officer John TernusDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. It would sit above the $299 HomeView hub, which launches this month and offers a lower-cost test of demand for Siri-powered home control and FaceTime.
What could go wrong? At roughly $1,000, J595 would need to clearly outdo that cheaper hub and established smart displays, rather than leaning on a moving screen as its main selling point. Reports suggest the team is weighing whether to narrow the robot's features — a sign its AI ambitions may not be ready.
The signal: Apple's bottleneck here is software and AI, not engineering — the opposite of its usual reputation. For a product potentially years from launch, the slip matters less for revenue than for what it reveals about Apple's struggle to turn hardware into capable, AI-driven experiences.
Image credit: luisvilla
Read more: The Information, pcmag.com, The Verge, macworld.com, Ars Technica, newsbytesapp.com, marketscreener.com
