Apple Is Reportedly Building a Robot That Can Fold Your Laundry

Apple is reportedly exploring a new type of household robot that could eventually fold clothes without human assistance. The project is part of the company’s wider interest in robotics and smart home technology.

According to a report by The Information, Apple has been experimenting with robots designed to perform everyday household tasks. One of the concepts reportedly involves a machine capable of handling laundry, while other projects include a wheeled robot that follows people around the home and a small indoor flying device.

The idea could bring Apple into a new category of consumer technology. However, the laundry-folding robot is still an experimental project. Apple has not announced a finished product, confirmed its specifications or provided a release date.

The reported development also highlights a broader trend in the technology industry: companies are increasingly exploring ways to move artificial intelligence beyond screens and into physical devices that can interact with the real world.

Apple Is Exploring a Robot That Can Fold Clothes

Folding laundry may look like a simple household task, but automating it is technically challenging.

Unlike smartphones, furniture or other rigid objects, clothes constantly change shape. A T-shirt can become twisted, a pair of trousers can fold unevenly, and different fabrics behave differently when picked up or moved.

A robot designed to fold laundry would need to perform several tasks:

• Identify different types of clothing.
• Recognise the position and shape of each garment.
• Pick up soft fabric without losing control of it.
• Identify suitable folding points.
• Manipulate the material into the required shape.
• Place the folded clothing in an organised position.

These actions require a combination of computer vision, robotic movement, object recognition and advanced control systems.

According to the reporting, Apple is investigating a robot that could handle this type of household work. However, the available information does not establish whether the company has developed a working prototype or how much progress it has made.

It is also unclear whether Apple is developing a standalone laundry-folding machine or a more flexible household robot.

Why Folding Laundry Is Difficult for Robots

Robots are generally more effective at handling objects with predictable shapes.

For example, an industrial robot can repeatedly pick up a metal component from a fixed position and place it somewhere else. The component does not change shape during the process.

Clothing is different.

A shirt can be flat, crumpled, inside out or partially covered by another garment. A robot must understand the fabric’s changing shape before deciding how to handle it.

This creates several technical challenges.

1. Recognising different fabrics

A laundry-folding robot would need to identify the shape and position of garments.

A thin T-shirt, thick sweatshirt and pair of jeans do not behave in the same way. Their weight, flexibility and thickness can affect how a robot picks them up.

2. Handling soft materials

Soft materials can bend, stretch and collapse during movement.

A robot must apply enough force to hold clothing securely without damaging it or pulling it out of position.

3. Finding the correct folding points

Different garments require different folding techniques.

A T-shirt may need its sleeves folded inward before the body is folded. Trousers require a different approach.

A machine would need to recognise these differences and adjust its movements accordingly.

4. Working with mixed laundry

Real household laundry is rarely organised into perfectly separated piles.

A useful consumer device would need to handle different garments, colours, sizes and fabric types with minimal human assistance.

These challenges help explain why a laundry-folding robot could require sophisticated hardware and software.

Apple Is Reportedly Exploring Other Household Robots

The laundry-folding machine is not the only robotic concept associated with Apple’s reported research.

The company is also said to be exploring other devices that could perform useful tasks around the home.

A wheeled robot that follows users

One concept reportedly involves a mobile robot that can follow people as they move between rooms.

Such a device could potentially act as a mobile assistant, carrying a screen, sensors or other equipment.

However, the report does not establish its final design or intended functions.

An indoor flying robot

Apple has also reportedly explored a small flying device designed to operate inside homes.

An indoor drone could potentially monitor rooms, interact with smart home devices or provide other forms of assistance.

However, these are possible applications rather than confirmed product features.

There is currently no announced Apple indoor drone with a confirmed release schedule.

A wider move towards physical AI

These concepts suggest that Apple is investigating how software intelligence could be combined with physical machines.

For years, digital assistants have responded to voice commands and performed tasks through phones, computers and smart speakers.

Robotics could extend that interaction into the physical environment.

Instead of simply answering a question, a household robot could potentially move, observe its surroundings or perform a specific task.

Nevertheless, building a reliable household robot is considerably more difficult than developing a software-based assistant.

Apple’s Smart Home Robot Could Be Closer to Launch

Among the reported projects, Apple’s robotic smart home device appears to be further along in development than the laundry-folding concept.

The Information has reported that Apple is developing a more advanced version of its smart home display, potentially called HomeView Ultra or HomeView Max.

The device is reportedly expected to feature a screen measuring approximately nine inches, mounted on a motorised robotic arm.

The arm could move the display and automatically turn it towards a person in the room.

This would make the device different from a conventional stationary smart display.

How the robotic smart home display could work

The reported design includes cameras and sensors that could help the device understand its surroundings.

For example, it could potentially:

• Turn its screen towards a person.
• Respond to movement around the room.
• Support video calls.
• Interact with smart home equipment.
• Automatically adjust its screen position.
• Detect nearby objects to help avoid collisions.

The reported design has also been compared with Apple’s iMac G4 and the animated desk lamp associated with Pixar.

These comparisons relate to the device’s appearance and moving display, rather than confirmed product specifications.

Reported price and launch timing

The device has reportedly been targeted at approximately $1,000.

Apple is said to be considering a launch in 2027, although software development problems could push the release into 2028.

These details remain unconfirmed. Apple has not officially announced the product, its final name, price or launch date.

Importantly, the reported launch timeline for the smart home display should not be confused with the laundry-folding robot. The latter has no confirmed release schedule.

Why Apple’s Robotics Projects Could Matter

Apple is already known for consumer products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

Entering household robotics could give the company another opportunity to connect its hardware, software and services.

A successful household robot could potentially become part of a wider smart home ecosystem.

For example, a device could interact with lighting, security equipment, entertainment systems and other connected products.

However, the opportunity goes beyond smart home control.

A robot that can physically perform household tasks would represent a different type of product from the devices consumers currently associate with Apple.

Instead of requiring people to operate a screen or give voice commands, it could potentially complete selected physical tasks independently.

That possibility could make household robotics an important area of future technology development.

Apple Is Not New to Robotics

Although Apple’s reported household robots have attracted attention, the company has previously developed robotic systems for internal operations.

One example is Daisy, Apple’s iPhone recycling robot.

Introduced in 2018, Daisy was designed to disassemble used iPhones and recover valuable materials for recycling.

It followed an earlier system called Liam.

Unlike the proposed household robots, Daisy was designed for a controlled industrial environment rather than a normal home.

This distinction is important.

Industrial robots generally work in carefully organised settings where objects arrive in predictable positions. Household robots must deal with changing environments, unexpected obstacles and objects that may be difficult to recognise or manipulate.

Apple’s experience with industrial automation does not automatically mean it can build a reliable laundry-folding robot.

However, it demonstrates that the company has experience developing robotic systems for specific tasks.

Could Apple’s Laundry Robot Become a Commercial Product?

There is currently no confirmed answer.

Technology companies frequently explore experimental products that never reach the market.

Apple itself has previously cancelled major projects, including its long-running electric vehicle initiative, known as Project Titan.

The company reportedly spent years researching the project before ending development in 2024.

This history is a reminder that an experimental Apple project should not automatically be treated as an upcoming product.

The laundry-folding robot may face several challenges before it becomes commercially practical.

Cost and complexity

A machine capable of recognising, picking up and folding different garments could require expensive cameras, sensors, motors and processing hardware.

The final product would need to be affordable enough for ordinary households.

Reliability

Consumers would expect a laundry robot to work consistently.

A machine that folds one type of shirt correctly but struggles with other garments may have limited practical value.

Speed

The robot would also need to complete tasks within a reasonable amount of time.

If folding a small pile of clothes takes considerably longer than doing it manually, consumers may see little benefit.

Space requirements

Household appliances must fit into real living spaces.

A laundry robot would need a practical design that does not occupy excessive floor space.

Apple would need to consider all these factors before turning the reported concept into a consumer product.

What Could This Mean for the Future of Household Technology?

The reported project reflects a wider shift towards physical artificial intelligence.

Traditional AI systems mainly process information. They generate text, analyse images, answer questions and help users complete digital tasks.

Robotics adds another layer: the ability to interact with physical objects and environments.

This combination could eventually lead to machines that help with household cleaning, organisation, food preparation and other everyday activities.

However, each task presents different technical challenges.

Folding clothes requires precise manipulation of soft materials. Cleaning requires navigation and object detection. Cooking involves handling ingredients, utensils, heat and potentially dangerous equipment.

A robot designed for one task may not be suitable for another.

For that reason, specialised household robots could become more practical than machines attempting to perform every domestic activity.

Apple’s reported laundry-folding concept fits into this broader direction, although its commercial future remains uncertain.

Conclusion

Apple is reportedly exploring a laundry-folding robot as part of a wider effort to develop household robotics.

The company is also said to be investigating a wheeled robot that follows people and a small indoor flying device. Separately, a more advanced smart home display with a motorised robotic arm could be closer to commercial release.

The laundry-folding concept is particularly interesting because handling soft materials remains a difficult challenge for robotics developers.

However, Apple has not announced a finished machine, confirmed its capabilities or provided a launch date.

For now, the project should be viewed as an experimental development rather than a product consumers can expect to purchase soon.