People who worked on Apple’s robotic projects have described a home robot, code-named J595, that could support FaceTime calls and automatically control household lighting. The device could carry the HomeView Ultra name, with a reported price target of about $1,000 or more and a possible launch in 2027.
Development delays could push that timing to 2028. A firm timeline has not been publicly confirmed, while the price and product name remain reported possibilities. Apple CEO John Ternus is reportedly backing the project.
Proposed features and HomeView connection
The reported design includes a nine-inch screen mounted on a swiveling robotic arm. The arm would allow the display to follow a person moving within a room during a video call. Cameras and sensors are intended to let the device respond to its surroundings, including switching on lights when someone enters a room.
The robot’s proposed capabilities have not been independently verified.
The possible HomeView Ultra name would connect the robot to Apple’s stationary HomeView smart display. Apple introduced HomeView on October 13, 2026, with a seven-inch screen and announced availability beginning November 13. The company says that device supports FaceTime, home monitoring and controls for connected household accessories.
Development history and broader robotics work
Reported accounts place the earliest robot prototypes in 2018 and say Tim Cook, then Apple’s CEO, approved continued development. That history has not been independently verified.
Engineers have reportedly spent years refining the software and incorporating more AI capabilities. The development effort has also focused on finding uses beyond video calling to help justify the expected price.
One unnamed source described a team with about 10 specialist roboticists and said many members of the original engineering group had departed over the years. The software team was separately reported to have approximately 300 people. Those figures are unconfirmed estimates.
Ternus is also reportedly supporting a separate robotics project aimed at household tasks such as folding clothes. The intended design of those household-task robots remains unclear.
