Apple is planning to extend its smart-home ecosystem beyond Apple Watch, HomePods and Apple Watch. According to famous Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Cupertino-giant is mulling over humanoid and non-humanoid robots. Kuo says that the company is currently in the initial proof-of-concept (POC) phase, which means the products are internally tested to decide if they are viable or not.
“Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots for its future smart home ecosystem, and these products are still in the early proof-of-concept (POC) stage internally. While the industry debates the merits of humanoid vs. non-humanoid designs, supply chain checks indicate Apple cares more about how users build perception with robots than their physical appearance (so Apple uses anthropomorphic instead of humanoid), implying sensing hardware and software serve as the core technologies,” Kuo wrote on X.
Mass production unlikely before 2028
It will take years to advance from the POC phase to mass development, and Apple’s robots have a long way off from accomplishing that goal. In keeping with general product development patterns, according to Kuo, these robots are not expected to see mass production before 2028. The company is actively hiring for its home robotics projects.
Understanding Apple’s POC stage
The POC or Proof of Concept phase is the initial stage of development wherein Apple determines if the new product idea and its related technologies are feasible before going ahead with full development. A product in POC does not necessarily mean that it will arrive, and Apple Car is one such example of this.
“The timeline from POC to formal kick-off varies. Given current progress and typical development cycles, Apple’s robot mass production likely won’t start until 2028 or later. Interestingly, Apple has been unusually open about sharing some of its robotics research during the early POC stage—possibly to attract talent,” Kuo noted.
Apple’s long-term vision for Robotics
Though information about Apple’s robotics is limited, Kuo’s observations suggest Apple is determined to incorporate robots into its smart home system. However, it remains unclear of these robots will be used as assistants, security systems, or something different.
