Reports suggest Apple is developing a home robots that might become its next significant product following the Vision Pro.
According to a recent report, Apple, having shifted focus from its long-term project on autonomous electric vehicles, is now venturing into the realm of home robotics. This new direction could position home robots as Apple’s next major innovation following the Vision Pro headset. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving Apple’s hardware engineering team and its AI and machine-learning division.
Bloomberg’s Marc Gurman, referencing sources familiar with the developments, reported that Apple engineers are exploring the concept of a mobile robot capable of accompanying users within their homes. Furthermore, it’s noted that Apple, the world’s second-largest publicly traded company, has developed a prototype of a desktop device that can reposition its display using robotic mechanisms.
Last year, Apple ended its streak of declining revenue with a 2% sales increase, as reported by The Guardian. However, the iPhone manufacturer is facing challenges, particularly in China, where its sales decreased from $23.9 billion to $20.8 billion in one quarter. Additionally, iPad sales fell to $7 billion from $9 billion compared to the same quarter the previous year. These financial pressures are pushing the publicly-traded company to explore new revenue streams.
Venturing into the home robot market could offer Apple an opportunity to place another one of its products in consumers’ homes, diversifying its product line. However, should Apple proceed with this innovation, it’s important to note that they would not be pioneering in the home robot sector.
In 2021, Amazon launched Astro, a mobile screen that integrates with its Alexa voice software, marking its entry into the home robot market. Although Apple’s potential robot might share similarities with Astro, details about its design remain speculative until it potentially reaches production.
Critics have deemed Astro unsuccessful, but the home robot market has seen triumphs elsewhere. For instance, Roomba, the robotic vacuum cleaner series from iRobot, reportedly resides in over 40 million households. Notably, Amazon’s attempt to acquire iRobot fell through due to regulatory challenges, highlighting the competitive and complex nature of the home robotics industry.
The Apple Vision Pro, the latest innovation from Apple that spearheads its venture into the virtual and augmented reality market, has enjoyed considerable success. Despite its steep $3,500 price tag, the device sold over 150,000 units during its opening weekend, as noted by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
For context, this is compared to the 270,000 iPhones sold during its debut weekend in 2007. However, when considering the iPhone’s initial average sale price of $450, the Vision Pro’s launch revenue was roughly four times greater than that of the iPhone’s, even without adjusting for inflation.