Apple has explored home robots that follow you, fly around, and fold clothes

Breaking News Apple’s robotics ambitions reportedly stretch far beyond the more advanced HomeView currently in development, with the company having explored machines that could follow users around the home, fly indoors, and even fold clothes.

According to The Information, Apple has investigated several different home-robot concepts as part of a wider push into robotics. There is no indication that all, or even any, of these experimental devices will eventually be released.

The ideas reportedly include a wheeled robot capable of following a person from room to room, a device designed to fly inside the home, and another concept intended to fold clothes.

HomeView Ultra appears to be Apple’s most realistic robot

The concept closest to becoming a real product is Apple’s higher-end robotic HomeView. The Apple Post previously reported that Apple is developing a roughly 9-inch HomeView mounted on a motorized 360-degree arm, with the screen able to turn toward whoever is speaking.

The latest report adds that the device could use cameras and sensors to understand its surroundings and act autonomously. The current HomeView already serves as the center of Apple’s expanding smart home ecosystem, combining Siri AI, FaceTime, media playback and Apple Home controls.

Apple has also been experimenting with sensors and visual intelligence across its home hardware. Earlier software references pointed to unreleased home accessories with cameras, sensors and visual-reasoning capabilities.

Apple appears to be testing how physical AI could work in the home

The various concepts suggest Apple is exploring ways to move Apple Intelligence beyond screens and speakers into devices that can physically react to their environment.

A robot that follows a user could theoretically keep FaceTime, Siri or smart home controls nearby as someone moves between rooms. A flying device or clothes-folding robot would represent a much more ambitious leap into general-purpose home robotics.

For now, those ideas remain experiments. The Information does not say that Apple has committed to releasing the wheeled, flying or clothes-folding concepts, and large technology companies routinely test hardware that never reaches customers.

Apple’s immediate smart home focus remains HomeView, which was officially unveiled in October and launches November 13. The rumored robotic HomeView is reportedly targeted for 2027, although it could slip into 2028.