Meet the “iBot”? Apple’s Bold Move into Humanoid Robots Says Morgan Stanley

Imagine walking into your living room, and instead of just asking Siri to play your favourite song, you glance over to a sleek, human-shaped bot that stands up, turns, and politely says “Good morning, how can I help today?” No, it isn’t the set of a sci-fi movie. It could soon be the home of the iconic iPhone maker. 

Apple may be getting ready to send a new kind of product into the world; one that walks, talks, responds. According to Morgan Stanley, Apple isn’t just dabbling; it’s setting its sights on a future where robotics becomes a major platform just like the iPhone was. Apple’s move into humanoid robots could reshape the revenue mix, ecosystem reach and long-term potential of the AAPL stock.

Let’s break down what this blog, the key numbers Morgan Stanley is flagging, what Apple is planning in this space, how it might get there (and what hurdles lie ahead), what Morgan Stanley expects and why it matters for investors.

What Apple is Planning?

While Apple hasn’t announced a humanoid robot (nicknamed “iBot” by some observers) officially, the signals are there. Morgan Stanley believes the first phase could be a “motorised tabletop hub” device designed to move or track users, helping with daily tasks at home or office. That fits Apple’s classic pattern: begin with a smaller category, iterate, build an ecosystem, then expand.

Apple’s own advantages are clearly laid out: control of hardware + software + silicon, a massive installed base of devices (2.3 billion+ active devices) and deep experience in manufacturing and ecosystem integration. Also, Apple’s earlier investments in areas like its self-driving car project (Project Titan) and its recycling robot Daisy can be seen as groundwork for embodied robotics. 

How Apple Will (and Won’t) Get There

Getting from iPhone to humanoid robot is no trivial task. Morgan Stanley outlines how the journey might play out:

• First launch from around 2027 looks plausible (tabletop hub).
• Then over the next decade, scaling into more capable robots (including humanoid and even industrial robots) as AI advances, costs decline, sensors improve.
• Apple will likely rely heavily on its own chip design, machine-learning capability, sensor integration and ecosystem leverage (services, App Store, devices) to differentiate.
• On the flip side, Apple faces steep hurdles: robotics remains a nascent market, cost per unit is high, adoption uncertain, safety & trust matter greatly in home robots.
• Competition is intense: companies like Tesla, Inc. (with its “Optimus” project) and other robotics specialists are already active.

In short: Apple’s path is plausible but not guaranteed. Its track record of hardware + services gives it a fighting chance to “turn robots into consumers’ trusted assistants” rather than a “toy”.

What Morgan Stanley is Saying and Expects?

Morgan Stanley’s message is bullish but measured. They believe that by 2040:

• Apple’s robotics revenue could hit ~US$130-133 billion in the median case (~9 % market share).
• In a more aggressive scenario, market share could reach ~22 % and revenue near ~US$300 billion.
• This robotics business could contribute 10% to 25% of Apple’s current share over time.
• They view robotics as potentially the next major platform for Apple; alongside iPhone, Mac, Services.

For investors, the takeaway is that if Apple executes this right, the stock may have another leg of growth via robotics, not just through device refreshes or Services expansion.

Why this Matters for Investors?

• Many investors, domestic and international, hold Apple shares to get exposure to global tech. Knowing that Apple may move into robotics opens a “high-impact” scenario beyond incremental smartphone growth.
• It reinforces the “ecosystem moat” argument: Apple’s ability to integrate hardware, software, services and perhaps physical robotics gives it a unique position. That moat appeals globally.
• It underlines the long-term time-horizon: This isn’t a device next year, it’s a platform unfolding over a decade.
• It also raises awareness of emerging competition and risk: If Apple mis-executes, or robotics costs don’t fall as expected, the opportunity shrinks. Global investors must weigh execution risk.

Summing Up

If you thought Apple’s next move was simply another iPhone upgrade or a new headset, think again. The “iBot” (or whatever Apple decides to call it) could mark the company’s leap from screens into motion, from apps into embodied intelligence. Morgan Stanley’s estimate of US$130-133 billion in annual robotics revenue by 2040 isn’t a fantasy, it’s an advanced scenario based on Apple’s strengths and the evolving robotics landscape.

For Indian and global investors alike, this adds a fresh narrative to Apple’s investment story: hardware-software-services now plus robotics. As always, execution matters more than expectation: how Apple navigates the early phase (2027-2030), how the consumer market responds, how costs decline, how services tie-in; all these will decide whether the iBot becomes a hit or merely a footnote.

In the meantime, keep an eye on the signals: increased hiring in robotics/AI at Apple, patents, partnerships, and any product hints. Because the next time Apple “reimagines” the world, that world might actually walk, talk and assist you around your living room.

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