Apple is reportedly moving ahead with its project to create an iPad-like tabletop robotic device. In a report for Bloomberg, Apple analyst Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is planning to launch this product by 2026. Gurman has also revealed some details regarding the pricing of the upcoming Apple product in the new category.
Apple’s tabletop home device will combine an iPad-like display with a robotic limb
As per the source, Apple is working on a pricey tabletop home device that “combines an iPad-like display with a robotic limb”. The device will provide a twist on other home products like Amazon’s Echo Show 10 and Meta’s discontinued Portal. The report suggests that Apple’s industrial design team has been working on a tabletop robotic device concept for years. However, there wasn’t a general agreement within the company over whether to move forward.
Furthermore, the source suggests that Apple’s marketing group was concerned that users wouldn’t be willing to pay for such a device. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook sees a potential in this product. Notably, John Ternus, Apple’s head of hardware engineering, is also seen as a proponent of the device. Thus, Apple has now decided to prioritize the iPad-like tabletop device’s development.
It will serve as a smart home command center, a video-calling machine, and a security monitoring tool
The idea for the new product is to be mainly controlled using the Siri digital assistant. It will also support the upcoming Apple Intelligence features. The device could be able to respond to various voice commands, such as “Look at me”. The product is expected to flaunt an iPad-like display mounted on a slim robotic arm. This would allow the screen to tilt up and down, apart from rotating a full 360 degrees.
Apple’s upcoming product would serve as a “smart home command center”. It will also act as a videoconferencing machine such as for FaceTime calls. Furthermore, the device is expected to work as a home security monitoring tool. During the video calls, the Apple tabletop device would be able to recognize different voices and automatically orient the display to face various people in the room.
Apple’s tabletop device could launch in 2026 for around $1,000
Notably, Gurman mentions that Apple is planning to launch the iPad-like tabletop device as early as 2026 or 2027. Apple is aiming to get the price of the device down to around $1,000. A lot of things could change since the launch is many years away. This is one of the several devices the Cupertino tech giant is working on as it aims to further diversify its portfolio and boost its bottom line.