Here's When Apple's First Robots Are Expected to Enter Mass Production

Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots as future smart home products, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. However, he does not expect the robots to launch for several more years, if ever.

Apple Robot Thumb 1
Kuo today said Apple's robot projects remain in the proof-of-concept stage within the company. In the event that Apple decides to move forward with launching the robots, Kuo believes that mass production likely won't begin until 2028 or later.

Kuo's prediction comes after a team of robotics researchers at Apple designed and prototyped a lamp-like robot with lifelike movements.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year reported that Apple was developing a tabletop robot with an "iPad-like display" attached to a "robotic limb." Barring any setbacks, he said Apple was aiming to announce the device as early as 2026 or 2027. As mentioned above, though, Kuo's current prediction for the robots is 2028 or later.

The tabletop robot would be primarily controlled with Siri and Apple Intelligence, according to Gurman. He said the device could respond to commands such as "look at me," which would position the screen on the user's face during a FaceTime video call. The device would also understand different voices, he said.

The tabletop robot could become a higher-end version of Apple's rumored smart home hub, which is expected to launch this year. Apple is aiming for a price of around $1,000, according to Gurman, but the plans could change.

Popular Stories

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025

Friday April 11, 2025 4:14 pm PDT by
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then. We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.4.1 With Bug Fixes

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.4.1 and iPadOS 18.4.1 come two weeks after the launch of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. There have been complaints about ...
iPhone 6s MacRumors YouTube

Apple Says These Products Are Now Vintage

Tuesday April 15, 2025 9:53 am PDT by
Apple today updated its vintage products list to add the 2018 Mac mini and the iPhone 6s, devices that will get more limited service and repairs now that they are considered vintage. The iPhone 6s initially launched in 2015, but Apple kept it around as a low-cost device until 2018, which is why it is only now being added to the vintage list. The iPhone 6s had Apple's A9 chip, and it was...

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
9 weeks ago

Hey Siri can you pick up the garbage?
"Here's your photo montage"
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
9 weeks ago
How can one even assume a product will still be relevant or a good idea if it's going to take THREE more YEARS (or more!) just to get into production?

Apple needs to work a lot faster than this
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
9 weeks ago

They need to be useful, such as the new roborock vacuum with arm to clean things up. Otherwise they'll end up being like Vision Pro for most people.
Hopefully actually useful, unlike Roborock. That arm can only pick up a max is 300g, and then what is it going to do with what it picks up? Make a nice little junk mess in the corner?

We have three robovacs in our house of varying brands, and all they do consistently is dry hump table legs.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SmokyT18 Avatar
9 weeks ago

"Here's your photo montage"
For me Siri would start playing some obscure song that I’ve never heard before.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
9 weeks ago
Makes sense. There’s already a non-humanoid prototype in charge at Apple Park
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcfrazieriv Avatar
9 weeks ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/12/kuo-apple-robots-likely-2028-or-later/')

Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots as future smart home products, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. However, he does not expect the robots to launch for several more years, if ever.



Kuo today said ('https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1889694419907125342') Apple's robot projects remain in the proof-of-concept stage within the company. In the event that Apple decides to move forward with launching the robots, Kuo believes that mass production likely won't begin until 2028 or later.

Kuo's prediction comes after a team of robotics researchers at Apple designed and prototyped a lamp-like robot ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/06/apple-prototypes-tabletop-robot/') with lifelike movements.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year reported that Apple was developing a tabletop robot ('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/14/apple-tabletop-robotic-home-device-2026/') with an "iPad-like display" attached to a "robotic limb." Barring any setbacks, he said Apple was aiming to announce the device as early as 2026 or 2027. As mentioned above, though, Kuo's current prediction for the robots is 2028 or later.

The tabletop robot would be primarily controlled with Siri and Apple Intelligence, according to Gurman. He said the device could respond to commands such as "look at me," which would position the screen on the user's face during a FaceTime video call. The device would also understand different voices, he said.

The tabletop robot could become a higher-end version of Apple's rumored smart home hub ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/26/homepod-hub-with-7-inch-screen-rumor/'), which is expected to launch this year. Apple is aiming for a price of around $1,000, according to Gurman, but the plans could change.

Article Link: Here's When Apple's First Robots Are Expected to Enter Mass Production ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/12/kuo-apple-robots-likely-2028-or-later/')
"Siri, what is the weather outside?"

Siri: "Sorry, didn't quite catch that."

"Siri, WHAT IS THE WEATHER OUTSIDE?"

Siri: "Bum bum bum... bum bum bum... I'm having trouble connecting to the internet"
2 seconds later: "Your mother messaged you, 'there's cakes floating in the sky'"

:confused: I thought you didn't have internet...

Opens mom's text: "This cake I just had at the local bakery was like floating in the clouds"
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)