Apple is reportedly preparing a higher-end version of its upcoming smart home panel that would add a moving arm and a bigger screen. The rumored Apple robotic smart display, possibly called the HomeView Ultra, is expected to arrive in 2027, according to a report from The Information, with shipments beginning in 2028.
The device carries the internal codename J595. It is said to pair a 9-inch display with an articulated mechanical arm that can swivel the screen. During FaceTime calls, that movement could keep the user in frame by tracking them around the room.
A HomeView that moves
The standard HomeView has not yet reached stores. Apple’s first dedicated smart home display is scheduled to go on sale next week at a starting price of $299. That model has a 7-inch screen and a speaker that also serves as a stand; Apple plans to offer a wall-mounted version as well.
The HomeView is built to work as a dashboard for the Apple ecosystem. It can show smart home devices and security cameras alongside calendars, messages, and other integrated apps, with Apple Home and Siri as the main ways to interact.
The rumored Ultra model would sit above that device. Reports suggest it could cost as much as $1,000, placing it in a different tier from the $299 entry model.
Software has been the sticking point
According to the report, the hardware for the higher-end device has been finished for a couple of years. The delays are attributed to software development challenges, particularly the work of integrating advanced AI features and proactive automation.
Those automation features could allow the display to act on its own. The report describes scenarios such as turning on devices or triggering a room scene when someone walks into a room. A swiveling screen could also track movement through the home and run routines or scenes based on where a person is.
Whether most smart home users would want that level of tracking is an open question. The report notes that some may find it invasive, even as premium robotic displays point toward companies standardizing interactive hubs for the home.
Not the first moving screen
Amazon previously sold an Echo Show 10 with a display that followed users to keep them in the camera’s view during video calls. That model has been discontinued.
What could set an Apple version apart is its place inside Apple’s ecosystem. FaceTime is widely used, and iPhone owners make up a large share of the company’s customers, which could give a moving display a natural role in everyday calls and home control.
For now, the details remain reported rather than announced. The $299 HomeView is the device Apple has confirmed for the near term, and the Ultra model is described as a 2027 plan with shipments in 2028.
