Apple is widely believed to be working on two different robotics projects, both related to the Apple Home of the future. Here’s what to expect from both projects.
A few months after the untimely demise of the Apple Car project, claims of a new robotics development within Apple appeared in April 2024. The iPhone maker had reportedly decided to shift focus, with increased efforts and research into products that would offer integration with smart home devices.
Part of that vision reportedly involves robots — a mobile humanoid unit, and a largely stationary anthropomorphic robot. The goal of these two apparent robotics projects is different.
While Apple’s planned humanoid robot will supposedly be able to assist with simple tasks and follow the user around, the company’s anthropomorphic creation will offer video-conferencing, among other things. The latter robot is said to have an iPad-like display attached to a robotic arm.
Though both robots are reportedly years away, we have a few details about potential use cases and overall capabilities. Here’s what the rumor mill, and Apple’s own prototype, indicate is in the works.
Initial rumors and release schedule
Though we first heard about the iPhone maker’s robotics endeavors back in April 2024, it wouldn’t be until August of that same year that more concrete details would emerge. Specifically, it was said that Apple’s planned robot with an iPad-like display featured the device identifier J595 and that the project as a whole was approved by company management in 2022.
The same report suggested the device was scheduled for release sometime in 2026 or 2027 after the launch of an apparent revamped HomePod with a display. There have been no proposed launch dates for Apple’s humanoid robot.
While the iPad-type robot was initially slated for a 2026 or 2027 release, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed in February 2025 that Apple’s planned anthropomorphic robot wouldn’t reach mass production until 2028. Kuo also noted that Apple was unusually open about the early-stage development of its new robot.
It’s ultimately unclear exactly when it will reach store shelves, but we have a pretty good idea of what it’ll be able to do, thanks in part to a prototype recently previewed by Apple.
Apple’s robotic lamp prototype — a map of things to come
In February 2025, the Apple Machine Learning Research Project released a video demonstration of a prototype robotic lamp, along with a twelve-page document detailing the importance of human-like movement in the unit.
Apple’s lamp robot concept – Image credit: Apple Machine Learning Research
The robot itself bears a significant resemblance to Pixar’s iconic mascot, Luxo Jr, in that it’s essentially a lamp attached to a robotic arm. The smart lamp demonstrates not just responses to user gestures but a general expressive demeanor that gives it more personal interactions than a typical robotic device.
In Apple’s promotional video, the prototype robot responds to user gestures and vocal commands, demonstrating attentiveness. Waving, pointing, and pushing tell the robot to bring the light closer, change its focus, or move it further away from the user. The robot notices where the user’s hands are, and can focus light on what they are doing or holding.
The video also shows that the robotic lamp can answer questions using a Siri-like voice. In response to a request, the lamp in the video also projects a tutorial video to assist the user in a project. Apple’s robot lamp can also check the weather, looking through a window while doing so.
Prototype vs. mass-production robots
It’s important to remember, though, that the prototype Apple previewed is merely a proof of concept. The mass-production version of Apple’s anthropomorphic robot is expected to feature an iPad-like display rather than a lamp at the end of a robotic arm. This means that the unit would be able to display information relevant to the end user, doing more than just shining lift.
Apple’s mass-production robots are expected to feature an iPad-like display rather than a lamp.
Presumably, this also means that Apple’s robot could function as a media consumption or entertainment device, with video output being handled by the built-in display. Most of Apple’s portable products can be used for this, even though that may not be the robot’s primary purpose.
As a whole, the unit will likely be controlled by Siri and Apple Intelligence, according to an August 2024 report. This aligns with Apple’s apparent AI push in recent years, as even entry-level products, such as the iPhone 16e, feature Apple Intelligence support. Even the robot-lamp prototype responds to voice commands, so this claim is ultimately no surprise.
Apple is supposedly developing a “humanlike interface based on generative AI,” sources say. If the claim is to be believed, this interface might also run on various tabletop devices and other future robotic hardware, rather than relying entirely on cloud-based processing.
Another potential application of the iPad-like robot is FaceTime video-conferencing. Rather than adjusting the position of a lamp, a more advanced robot might be able to adjust the focus of a built-in camera or move the display itself through the use of various actuators. This would also allow for photography sessions when you’re not sitting in front of the device or holding it.
The iPad-type robot might allow users to look around their home, while out and about. Apple is already said to be working on a smart camera, so it’s not impossible that an anthropomorphic robot could be used for something like this.
Humanoid vs iPad-type robot, pricing rumors
Though Apple has made more progress with its stationary robot with an iPad-style display, the company is also said to be working on a humanoid robot. The chief distinction between them is that the humanoid robot will be able to move around and follow the end user.
Apple is said to be working on a humanoid robot, though there are few details about the project.
Robot vacuum cleaners have been around for years, but Apple’s mobile robot could offer additional integration with smart home devices, perhaps informing the user of any changes. Though no specific purpose has been rumored for this robot, it will more than likely be used to be able to understand simple commands or perform chores.
In terms of pricing, Apple’s iPad-like unit with a robotic arm could be available at a price point of around $1000, which could otherwise get you an iPhone 16 Pro. This rumor is several months old, however, dating back to August 2024. No details have yet emerged on the price of Apple’s planned humanoid robot.
It’s important to remember that Apple’s robotics projects are still in their early stages of development, and the company has scrapped projects on multiple occasions. Ultimately, it could be years before these products finally reach end consumers, if at all.
