Oliver Haslam·

Apple’s Smart Home Tabletop Robot Expected To Launch In 2026 With Sub-$1,000 Price Tag

Apple has previously been reported to have designs on launching a mystery smart home device that would be a robotic iPad-like piece of hardware, but details have been sparse.

Now, a new report suggests that Apple is ramping up its work on the project with plans for it to cost less than $1,000 when it does finally launch.

Reportedly greenlit by Apple’s executive team as far back as two years ago, it’s only within the last two months that it’s thought plans have really kicked into gear. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that the device will be “a smart home command center, videoconferencing machine, and remote-controlled home security tool,” suggesting that it could be similar to smart displays sold by companies like Google and Amazon.

It’s thought that Apple could launch the device as soon as 2026, while we may have to wait an additional year. Gurman also notes that Apple’s plans could change, especially given the timescales involved.

As you might expect, Siri and Apple Intelligence are both expected to be key features of any such device.

The idea is for the tabletop product to be primarily controlled using the Siri digital assistant and upcoming features in Apple Intelligence. The device could respond to commands, such as “look at me,” by repositioning the screen to focus on the person saying the words — say, during a video call. It also could understand different voices and adjust its focus accordingly. Current models in testing run a customized version of the iPad operating system.

Matt Costello, the lead behind the development of the HomePod smart speaker, is thought to be involved in the plans. Robotics experts from the failed Apple Car project are also thought to be part of the team, too.

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