Apple is speeding up development of its first home robot, code-named J595. The device, which has a screen mounted on a robotic arm, is reportedly aimed at a 2027 release at around $1,000, despite ongoing software difficulties.
Apple’s home robot project has gained new momentum under John Ternus, described as the company’s new chief executive. According to The Information, he wants to strengthen Apple’s commitment to home robotics. The J595 project, started internally in 2019, is moving closer to a possible commercial release, although several software aspects still need to be finalised.
An iPad-like screen mounted on a robotic arm
The J595 robot would take the form of an iPad-like screen attached to a robotic arm. This design would make it something like an evolved version of Apple’s HomeView home hub, with an added mechanical dimension.
According to The Information, the hardware teams had completed most of the development work about two years before the project was revealed. The physical design is therefore well advanced, unlike the software side.
The teams are reportedly struggling in particular to define what the device will actually do. This work must establish which household uses the robot can genuinely offer, beyond moving its screen.
Release date: a 2027 target, with a possible delay to 2028
Apple is now reportedly aiming for a launch in 2027, after pushing back a release originally planned for 2026. According to The Information, a further delay to 2028 remains possible.
The J595 is still an internal project in development, not a home robot already on sale. The reported information concerns Apple’s preparations and launch goals, and does not amount to an official commercial announcement from the manufacturer.
How much will Apple’s home robot cost? A $1,000 target price
Apple is reportedly considering a price of around $1,000 for its first home robot, according to The Information. This figure is a price target, not a final retail price.
Conditions in the component market could push the final price higher. At this price level, the product’s appeal will depend in particular on the practical functions the software makes possible.
John Ternus wants to speed up Apple’s move into home robotics
John Ternus’s interest in the J595 reflects a wish to develop new product categories. The home robot would therefore be an important project for combining artificial intelligence and hardware within the Apple ecosystem.
The sector already attracts several manufacturers, including LG, SwitchBot and Unitree, which have launched or presented products related to home robotics. Demonstrations of household chores, such as folding laundry, illustrate the uses these companies are exploring.
For Apple, the challenge will be to turn its robotic screen into a device that can perform concrete household tasks. The functions the software teams finally settle on will determine what the J595 can do at its commercial launch.