Apple HomeView Ultra, drone and laundry-folding robot reportedly in development

Apple HomeView was only unveiled in mid-October, but the manufacturer is reportedly already planning a larger, more expensive flagship model. After rumors revealed a wealth of information about this HomeView Ultra or HomeView Max around two weeks ago, The Information has now learned some new details about Apple's most advanced smart home hub.

According to the report, HomeView Ultra will feature a larger 9-inch touchscreen mounted on a robotic arm. This arm can automatically turn the screen toward the user. With a camera and several sensors, this smart home hub is said to be "fully aware" of its surroundings and capable of acting autonomously. This autonomy ranges from turning on the lights when someone enters the room to shooing a cat away when it jumps onto a table. These sensors are also intended to prevent the arm from hitting nearby objects with the display. 

Apple is reportedly currently planning to announce this smart home hub in 2027 for around $1,000, but according to The Information, its launch could be delayed until 2028. The reason is allegedly the software, which has not yet been finalized, while the hardware is said to be ready for market already. Apple is reportedly already working on a range of other robots, from a robot on wheels that follows users around the house to a smart home drone and a robot that can fold clothes. However, it is not yet known whether or when these robots will come to market.