Apple HomeView Ultra could bring an iMac G4-style robotic smart display to the home
Apple’s smart home ambitions may be getting much bigger. After introducing Apple HomeView in mid-October, the company is reportedly preparing a more advanced and more expensive version that could arrive as early as 2027. The device is being referred to as Apple HomeView Ultra or HomeView Max, and it sounds like a major step beyond a typical smart display.
The most eye-catching detail is its design. Apple is said to be bringing back the spirit of the classic iMac G4, but in a completely different form. Instead of a desktop computer, this new device would be a smart home hub with a large display mounted on a motorized robotic arm. The screen could move automatically, turning toward the person using it and adjusting its position based on what is happening in the room.
The rumored HomeView Ultra is expected to feature a 9-inch touchscreen, making it larger than the standard HomeView. The robotic arm would allow the display to follow users visually and physically, creating a more interactive experience for video calls, smart home controls, media playback, reminders, and everyday household tasks.
What could make HomeView Ultra stand out is its ability to understand its surroundings. Reports claim the device will use a camera and multiple sensors to detect people, objects, pets, and movement around the room. This could allow the smart home hub to act on its own in certain situations, such as turning on lights when someone enters, adjusting the screen angle for better visibility, or avoiding nearby objects while moving.
One of the more unusual examples mentioned is the possibility of the device reacting when a cat jumps onto a table. That suggests Apple may be experimenting with a smart home product that does more than respond to voice commands. Instead, HomeView Ultra could become an active household assistant that observes, interprets, and responds to its environment.
Safety also appears to be a key part of the design. Because the display is attached to a moving arm, Apple is reportedly using sensors to prevent it from bumping into nearby furniture, walls, or other objects. If done well, this could make the robotic movement feel natural rather than intrusive.
Apple is reportedly targeting a price of around $1,000 for the HomeView Ultra, positioning it as a premium smart home hub rather than a low-cost smart speaker or simple display. While 2027 is said to be the current target for its announcement, the launch could slip to 2028. The main reason appears to be software development, with the hardware reportedly closer to being ready than the software that would power its advanced features.
That delay would not be surprising. A device that can move, sense its environment, make decisions, and interact safely with people and pets would require far more sophisticated software than a standard smart display. Apple would likely need to fine-tune everything from object detection and privacy protections to smart home automation and voice assistant performance.
HomeView Ultra may also be just one part of Apple’s broader push into home robotics. The company is reportedly exploring several robotic products, including a mobile robot that can follow users around the house, a smart home drone, and even a robot designed to fold laundry. These projects are still uncertain, and there is no guarantee they will become consumer products, but they show that Apple may be thinking far beyond traditional smart speakers and connected home accessories.
If HomeView Ultra reaches the market, it could become one of Apple’s most unusual home products yet. A robotic smart display with an iMac G4-inspired design, environmental awareness, and autonomous smart home features would give Apple a distinctive entry in the growing smart home hub category.
For now, the device remains unconfirmed, and many details could change before launch. Still, the idea of an Apple smart home robot with a moving display, advanced sensors, and deep home automation features is already generating interest. If Apple can deliver the right mix of design, privacy, intelligence, and usefulness, HomeView Ultra could become a major new centerpiece for the connected home.
