Apple is planning a higher-end version of its HomeView smart home display that adds a motorised robotic arm and voice-activated swivelling, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported. The device, code-named J595, would debut in 2027 or 2028.
The robotic arm lets the display rotate a full 360 degrees. Using voice recognition, the machine identifies who is speaking and automatically turns towards that person, Gurman wrote in his Power On newsletter.
Power On: Apple’s new HomeView shows the undeniable potential of a higher-end version with a robotic arm. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
The higher-end HomeView sits above the standard model rather than replacing it. It will have a roughly 9-inch display, up from 7 inches on the current £299 ($299) HomeView, according to 9to5Mac and AppleInsider. Apple has not confirmed the product or its name — possible names include HomeView Pro, Max, Ultra or something entirely new.
The standard HomeView, unveiled on 13 October, ships on 13 November and targets the wall-mounted smart display market. Its limited tilt means users must reposition it manually when several people are around a table — an issue the robotic arm would solve. Development of the HomeView line was slowed by delays in making Siri smarter. Apple has worked on robotic products for some time, and the company’s first-generation hardware typically gains significant improvements in the second generation.