Apple is preparing to transition from stationary home displays to a mobile home companion by equipping the advanced generation of HomeView with a motorized arm that rotates 360 degrees and tracks the speaker’s voice.
Advanced generation with a robotic arm before the first version ships
Voice recognition and overcoming the limitations of a stationary screen
First-generation launch details under CEO John Ternus
Competition in the smart home market and temporary absence from Europe
FAQs
Advanced generation with a robotic arm before the first version ships
Apple has not yet begun shipping the first generation of its smart home display, yet its engineering teams are already working on a higher-end model capable of physically turning directly to face anyone speaking in the room. In his “Power On” newsletter published on October 18, Bloomberg tech journalist Mark Gurman wrote that the new HomeView device “demonstrates the undeniable potential of a higher-end version equipped with a robotic arm.” Gurman confirms that this advanced device, carrying the internal codename J595, is planned for market release in 2027 or 2028.
The report notes that the new model resembles the general appearance of the current HomeView, but comes with a larger screen measuring approximately 9 inches, up from 7 inches in the initial standard version. The motorized arm will allow the screen to rotate a full 360 degrees on its axis.
Voice recognition and overcoming the limitations of a stationary screen
Apple also plans to employ advanced voice recognition technologies so that the device can identify the identity and location of the person speaking in the room, and then turn toward them smoothly and automatically. Thanks to this moving arm, the product can function as an interactive home companion that moves in response to people in its vicinity, rather than forcing users to adjust their positions or viewing angles to interact with a fixed screen.
The robotic model will be positioned at a higher price and tech tier than the current HomeView within the company’s product lineup rather than serving as a direct replacement, so it is not expected to be sold at the $299 price point. Gurman floated several potential commercial names for the anticipated device such as HomeView Max, HomeView Ultra, and HomeView 360, though tech site MacRumors notes these designations are merely initial speculation for now.
This engineering innovation addresses a tangible practical complaint regarding the first model; the version designed to sit on tabletops comes with a fixed 7-inch screen, forcing people sitting around a single table to turn it with their hands to view the content.
First-generation launch details under CEO John Ternus
Apple officially announced the HomeView device on October 13. Both the tabletop version and the wall-mounted version are priced at $299 in the United States market. Pre-orders are currently open to buyers, with official sales and store availability beginning on November 13.
According to CNBC, this device represents the first new product launch outside the iPhone category under new CEO John Ternus since he took the helm of the company succeeding Tim Cook last September. The device can recognize up to six family members through their faces, and was specifically designed to showcase the capabilities of the new AI-powered Siri assistant.
Competition in the smart home market and temporary absence from Europe
Bloomberg describes HomeView as the cornerstone of Apple’s strategic campaign to compete with sector giants Amazon and Google in the smart home device market. However, the device will not be sold in European Union countries for the time being given that the Siri artificial intelligence framework is not yet available within the iOS operating system there.
Apple has not issued any official comment regarding the robotic arm model. AppleInsider notes that Apple’s first-generation products are typically capable and effective, but tend to achieve very substantial and noticeable improvements in subsequent iterations.
FAQs
Question: What is the codename and expected release date for Apple’s robotic arm display?
Answer: The device carries the internal codename J595, and tech journalist Mark Gurman expects Apple to release it to the market in 2027 or 2028.
Question: What are the most prominent technical specifications distinguishing the robotic version from the first generation?
Answer: The new version features a 9-inch screen compared to the 7-inch size in the first generation, complete with a 360-degree robotic arm and voice recognition technology to turn toward the speaker.
Question: How much does the first generation of HomeView cost and when will it be available on the market?
Answer: Both the desktop and wall-mounted versions are priced at $299 in the United States, and pre-orders have opened with official sales launching on November 13.
Question: Why won’t the HomeView device be launched in European Union markets currently?
Answer: The reason it is not currently launched in the European Union is the lack of availability of the new Siri artificial intelligence system within iOS in European markets so far.
