ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple will announce a robot smart display in 2027.
- The device would have a larger screen and a robotic arm.
- The current HomeView will be on the market next week.
The Apple HomeView is the company’s first dedicated smart home display, and new reports that Apple plans to improve the product are already circulating. Apple plans to announce a HomeView with a robotic arm as early as next year. The dynamic display is expected to cost up to $1,000.
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The HomeView isn’t even on the market yet — it’ll be available for purchase next week, starting at $299. This 7-inch smart panel has a speaker that doubles as a stand, and Apple will also sell a wall-mounted option.
Apple’s HomeView plans in 2027
The information reports that Apple is rumored to be working on a high-end smart display for 2027, with shipments starting in 2028.
The new HomeView screen would be mounted on an articulated mechanical arm to rotate the screen, tracking users during FaceTime calls to keep them on the screen. The device could have proactive smart home automations, such as turning off appliances or triggering a room scene when someone walks into the room.
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The same report indicates that the hardware will be complete for several years, but launch delays are attributed to software development issues. The integration of advanced AI features and proactive automation was, according to The Information, a challenge for Apple.
How a ‘HomeView Ultra’ could change the smart home
A swiveling smart home display is not entirely new. Amazon used to sell an Echo Show 10 with a display that tracked users to keep them in view of the camera during video calls, though that model has been discontinued.
However, one that works in the Apple ecosystem could change how users interact with their home interfaces, given the popularity of FaceTime calls and the prevalence of iPhone users.
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A HomeView Ultra could even anticipate users’ needs by tracking people’s movements and automatically run routines and scenes depending on where they are in the home.
Although there is reason to doubt whether most smart home users welcome such technology in their homes or consider it too invasive, premium robot smart displays indicate that companies are standardizing interactive central hubs for the home.