Apple’s Robot Products Likely Delayed Until 2028, Says Kuo

Highlights

• Apple’s robot projects are not expected to reach mass production until 2028 or later.
• Apple has shared some of its early robotics research to attract talent and is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots.
• The recently shared video and research paper hint at the kind of tabletop home robot.

A recent video of an Apple-made robot lamp sparked excitement about the company’s future in robotics. However, it appears fans have to wait for a few years before they can get their hands on any actual Apple Robot products. Here’s what we know.

Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared an update suggesting that Apple’s robot projects are still in the proof-of-concept stage and won’t be ready for mass production until 2028 or later.

In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Kuo explained, “The timeline from POC [proof-of-concept] 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.”

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…

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 12, 2025

The recent video and research paper titled “ELEGNT: Expressive and Functional Movement Design for Non-Anthropomorphic Robot” provided the first real glimpse into what Apple’s robotics projects might look like. However, ‘robots’ in Apple’s case don’t necessarily mean humanoid machines.

Kuo confirmed that Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots as part of a future smart home ecosystem, but these are still in the early research phase. The analyst writes, “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.”

The robot lamp prototype that Apple has publicly shared might hint at the kind of tabletop home robot the company is developing.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple was aiming to launch a home robot by 2026 or 2027, but Kuo’s latest analysis suggests that we might not see anything until at least 2028, possibly indicating a difference in how they define a “robot.”

FAQs

Q1. When are Apple’s robot products expected to be ready for mass production?

Answer. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s robot projects are still in the proof-of-concept stage and likely won’t be ready for mass production until 2028 or later.

Q2. What types of robots is Apple exploring for the future smart home ecosystem?

Answer. Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots as part of its future smart home ecosystem.

Q3. What is the significance of the robot lamp prototype shared by Apple?

Answer. The robot lamp prototype hints at the type of tabletop home robot Apple might be developing, but actual product releases are still years away.

Also Read: Apple Reportedly Exploring Entry into Home Robotics and Tabletop Devices