Apple’s Robotic Home Hub Is Now Expected in 2027, While Smart Display and Camera Arrive Sooner

Apple is preparing its biggest push yet into the living room—but not all of the rumored hardware is arriving at the same time. According to a new report, Apple plans to launch a standard smart display and its first in-house smart camera much sooner, while a far more ambitious robotic home hub remains on track for 2027, not this year.

The update helps clarify months of speculation about Apple’s long-term home strategy.

A Smart Display Comes First

According to Mark Gurman, Apple currently has three major home devices in active development. The first expected to launch is a smart home display designed to compete with devices like Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub.

Internally known as J490 and J491, the device is said to feature:

• A roughly 7-inch display
• A focus on HomeKit control
• Deep integration with Siri as a central interface

Recent leaks from iOS 26 uncovered references to a “HomeAccessory” device powered by an A18 chip, which is notable because it suggests local support for Apple Intelligence features—something current HomePods lack.

Apple is reportedly designing a new visual interface optimized for distance viewing, allowing users to control smart home accessories, media, and third-party apps using Siri and App Intents.

Apple’s First Smart Home Camera Is Also Coming

Apple is also expected to enter the smart security space with its own HomeKit camera, code-named J450, planned for the same general timeframe as the smart display.

Until now, Apple has relied on partners like Eve and Logitech for HomeKit Secure Video cameras. An Apple-branded camera would allow tighter control over:

• Privacy features
• On-device processing
• Private Cloud Compute workflows

The camera is expected to include advanced presence detection, capable of distinguishing between people, animals, and other motion—reducing false alerts and improving automation reliability.

The Robotic Home Hub Is a Different Beast

The most eye-catching product—the robotic smart home hub with a motorized arm and larger display—is on a much longer timeline.

Internally known as J595, the device is now firmly expected to arrive in 2027 or later, despite recent rumors pointing to a much earlier launch. Gurman says the product was never planned for 2026.

This high-end hub is expected to:

• Feature a robotic arm that physically repositions the display
• Track users during activities like FaceTime calls or cooking
• Sit at the top of Apple’s home lineup
• Potentially cost over $1,000

Manufacturing is reportedly tied to partners in Vietnam, reflecting Apple’s ongoing efforts to diversify production beyond China.

Why the Delay Makes Sense

Gurman notes that the robotic hub is far more complex than Apple’s other home devices. Unlike a stationary screen, it must:

• Move naturally without feeling mechanical
• Understand loosely phrased, contextual voice commands
• React intelligently to user presence and movement

That level of interaction depends heavily on advanced conversational AI, an area Apple is still actively developing. The company’s upcoming Siri overhaul is seen as a prerequisite before launching a device that literally follows users around a room.

Holding the product until Apple’s generative AI capabilities mature could help avoid an awkward first impression for what would be one of Apple’s most futuristic consumer devices.

Apple’s Living Room Strategy Takes Shape

Taken together, the roadmap suggests a tiered approach to Apple’s smart home expansion:

• Smart display hub as a HomeKit and Siri centerpiece
• Apple-designed smart camera with privacy-first features
• Premium robotic hub once AI and hardware are ready

Rather than rushing everything out at once, Apple appears to be sequencing its ambitions—starting with practical upgrades and saving the boldest idea for when the technology can truly support it.

If successful, Apple’s delayed robotic hub could eventually redefine what a smart home assistant looks like. For now, the company seems focused on getting the fundamentals right first.