Samsung Ballie Shelved After 6 Years: What Happened to the Revolutionary Home Robot?

What Was Samsung Ballie?

Samsung Ballie was a rolling, autonomous AI companion robot first unveiled at CES 2020. The device was designed to move throughout your home, control smart devices, monitor security, and even project content onto walls and ceilings.
Think of it as a mobile smart home hub combined with a friendly digital assistant all housed in a bowling ball-sized sphere.

Original Vision and Features

When Samsung first introduced Ballie, the concept was revolutionary. The robot promised to:

• Autonomously navigate your entire home using advanced sensors
• Control smart devices like lights, thermostats, and curtains through Samsung’s SmartThings platform
• Monitor pets and home security with integrated cameras
• Project videos and presentations onto any surface using a built-in projector
• Learn your routines and adapt to your lifestyle through AI
• Respond to voice commands and even physical “foot presses”

The 2024 redesign significantly enhanced these capabilities. Samsung partnered with Google to integrate Gemini AI, enabling more natural conversations and multimodal understanding. Additionally, the robot grew to bowling-ball size (from tennis-ball size) and gained features like LiDAR navigation, infrared sensors, and enhanced projection capabilities.

Timeline: Ballie’s 6-Year Journey From CES to Cancellation

Understanding what happened to Ballie requires examining its complete history. Here’s the definitive timeline:

2020: The Grand Introduction

At CES 2020, Samsung unveiled Ballie as a concept device. The small, yellow robot charmed audiences with its R2-D2-like personality. However, Samsung made no commitment to a consumer release.

2021-2023: The Silent Years

For three years, Ballie virtually disappeared from public view. Samsung continued internal development but made no major announcements. Meanwhile, competitors like Amazon launched the Astro home robot in 2021.

January 2024: The Comeback

Ballie returned at CES 2024 with significant upgrades. The redesigned robot featured a projector system, enhanced AI capabilities, and a completely new form factor. Samsung hinted that a launch was imminent.

January 2025: The Promise

At CES 2025, Samsung finally committed to a timeline. The company announced Ballie would launch in the “first half of 2025” in the United States and South Korea. Tech publications reported that the robot was “nearly ready” for retail.

April 2025: Google Partnership Announced

Samsung and Google Cloud announced a strategic partnership. Ballie would integrate Google’s Gemini AI platform, enabling advanced multimodal interactions. Samsung narrowed the launch window to “summer 2025.”

Summer 2025: The Missed Deadline

Summer came and went without any Ballie launch. Samsung went silent on the project, offering only vague statements about “continuing to refine the technology.”

January 2026: The Cancellation

Ballie was completely absent from CES 2026. Bloomberg reported that Samsung had indefinitely shelved the project. According to official statements, Ballie is now an “active innovation platform” for internal research not a consumer product.

Why Did Samsung Cancel Ballie?

The cancellation wasn’t announced through a press release or official statement. Instead, Samsung quietly repositioned Ballie as internal research. However, industry analysis reveals several critical factors:

1. Technical Challenges

Despite six years of development, Samsung struggled with fundamental engineering problems:

Navigation Issues: The spherical design created stability and maneuverability challenges on varied surfaces. Navigating carpets, thresholds, and stairs proved more difficult than anticipated.

Battery Life Constraints: Powering autonomous navigation, projection systems, AI processing, and sensors required substantial battery capacity. Balancing battery size with the robot’s form factor was problematic.

Projection Functionality: While impressive in demos, the projection system required precise positioning and environmental control. Real-world homes with varying lighting conditions and surface textures created inconsistent results.

2. Privacy and Security Concerns

A rolling camera-equipped robot that constantly monitors your home raises obvious privacy questions. Furthermore, Samsung needed to address:

• Data storage and transmission security
• User control over recording and monitoring
• Compliance with evolving privacy regulations across different markets
• Consumer trust in always-on surveillance devices

3. Unclear Value Proposition

The most fundamental problem was simple: What problem does Ballie actually solve?

Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant already control smart homes without requiring a $2,000+ robot. Robot vacuums handle cleaning autonomously. Security cameras provide monitoring. Projectors display content.
Ballie attempted to combine all these functions, but it didn’t execute any single function better than dedicated devices. Additionally, it introduced complexity and cost without clear benefits.

4. Pricing Challenges

Industry estimates suggested Ballie would retail for $2,000-$2,500 or more. At that price point, consumers expect significant utility. However, Ballie’s feature set didn’t justify the premium cost especially when:

• Amazon Astro costs $1,600 and is already available
• Quality robot vacuums cost $300-$800
• Smart displays cost $100-$300
• Home security systems cost $200-$500

5. Market Realities

The home robotics market has proven incredibly challenging for major tech companies. Consider these recent failures:

• Amazon Astro for Business: Discontinued in July 2024 after only 8 months
• Numerous robotics startups: Many have shuttered or pivoted away from home robots
• Limited adoption: Even available home robots remain niche products with invitation-only sales

Samsung likely concluded that the investment required to overcome technical hurdles didn’t align with realistic market potential.

What Samsung Says Officially

In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, Samsung referred to Ballie as an “active innovation platform” within the company. The statement continued:

 

“After multiple years of real-world testing, it continues to inform how Samsung designs spatially aware, context-driven experiences, particularly in areas like smart home intelligence, ambient AI and privacy-by-design.”

Translation: Ballie won’t become a consumer product, but the technology developed will enhance other Samsung products.
Interestingly, Samsung hasn’t officially “cancelled” Ballie. The company maintains it’s still working on the technology internally. However, the absence from CES 2026 and repositioning as internal R&D strongly indicates consumers won’t see Ballie on store shelves anytime soon—if ever.

Best Home Robot Alternatives You Can Actually Buy in 2026

While Ballie won’t make it to market, the good news is that several capable home robots are available now. Here are the best alternatives:

1. Amazon Astro – $1,600

Best For: Home security and monitoring

Despite discontinuing the business version, Amazon continues selling Astro for homes through an invitation-only program. The device offers:

• Autonomous home patrol with periscope HD camera
• Pet detection and monitoring
• Alexa voice assistant integration
• Message delivery and reminders
• Integration with Ring security systems

Limitations: Still invitation-only, limited to US market, privacy concerns remain

How to Get It: Request an invite through Amazon’s Day 1 Editions program

2. LG CLOiD – Coming Soon

Best For: Household task automation

LG unveiled CLOiD at CES 2026 as a direct alternative to Ballie. This humanoid robot features:

• Two articulated arms with seven degrees of freedom each
• Five-fingered hands for delicate manipulation
• Integration with LG ThinQ smart home platform
• Demonstrated capabilities: laundry handling, cooking assistance, refrigerator organization
• Wheeled base for autonomous navigation

Status: Concept stage with live demonstrations at CES 2026. No pricing or release date announced.

Why It Matters: LG appears more committed to bringing a home assistant robot to market, with functional demonstrations showing real progress.

3. 1X NEO – $20,000 (or $499/month subscription)

Best For: Premium home assistance and elder care

NEO is the world’s first humanoid robot actually shipping to consumers in 2026. Features include:

• Full humanoid design at 66 lbs / 30 kg
• Home-safe soft actuators for safety around people
• Teleoperation training with autonomous features planned
• Running speed up to 12 km/h
• Privacy-first design with face-blurring cameras
• Available in three colors

Who Should Buy: Early adopters with significant budgets, elder care facilities, tech enthusiasts

Availability: Shipping to US customers now; preorders open

4. Unitree G1 – $16,000

Best For: Research and advanced home automation

A more affordable humanoid option offering:

• Full bipedal design with sophisticated movement
• Advanced AI capabilities
• Payload capacity suitable for household tasks
• Research-friendly platform with customization options

Best For: Tech enthusiasts and developers rather than average consumers

5. Loona Robot – $400-500

Best For: Companionship and light smart home control

For those seeking companionship without the massive investment:

• ChatGPT-4o integration for natural conversations
• Pet-like interactions and personality
• Home monitoring with HD camera
• Smart home device control
• Battery life: 2-4 hours per charge

Best For: Families wanting an interactive companion, light security monitoring

Comparison Table: Home Robots Available in 2026

What This Means for the Future of Home Robots

Ballie’s shelving reflects broader challenges in the consumer robotics industry. However, it doesn’t mean home robots are dead. Instead, we’re learning valuable lessons:

Specialized Functions Win

Robot vacuums succeeded because they solve one problem exceptionally well: floor cleaning. Similarly, security robots like Astro focus primarily on monitoring. Jack-of-all-trades robots struggle to justify their cost.

Price Matters Enormously

Consumers will pay premium prices for products that deliver clear, measurable value. Home robots haven’t proven that value yet at the $1,500-$2,500 price point.

Technical Challenges Remain

Navigation, manipulation, battery life, and AI understanding still present significant hurdles. Companies that solve these problems will lead the next generation of home robotics.

Humanoid Designs Gain Traction

Interestingly, the market is shifting toward humanoid robots with arms and hands. LG CLOiD, 1X NEO, and similar robots can manipulate objects something spherical designs like Ballie struggled with.

Lessons from Ballie’s Development

What can other companies learn from Samsung’s experience?

Don’t Overpromise

Samsung repeatedly committed to launch timelines it couldn’t meet. Each missed deadline eroded consumer trust and media goodwill.

Solve Real Problems

Cool technology doesn’t guarantee success. Products must address genuine pain points in consumers’ lives.

Start Small

Rather than creating an all-in-one solution, focusing on specific use cases might have been more viable. A Ballie focused solely on security, or solely on smart home control, might have succeeded.

Manage Expectations

Keeping Ballie as an internal research project from the start might have been wiser than years of public demonstrations followed by cancellation.

Should You Wait for a Home Robot?

If you’re considering a home companion robot, here’s practical advice:

Buy Now If:

• You have specific needs that existing products address (security, elder care, entertainment)
• You’re an early adopter comfortable with first-generation limitations
• Budget allows for premium pricing ($1,500+)

Wait If:

• You want a general-purpose household assistant
• You need reliable task automation (robots aren’t there yet)
• You’re budget-conscious (prices will decrease as technology matures)

Skip Entirely If:

• You’re satisfied with existing smart home solutions
• Privacy concerns outweigh benefits
• You don’t want to manage another connected device

The Bottom Line: Samsung Ballie’s Legacy

Samsung Ballie won’t revolutionize smart homes as promised. However, its development wasn’t wasted. The technology, engineering insights, and lessons learned will inform future Samsung products.
More importantly, Ballie’s story illustrates both the promise and the challenges of home robotics. We’re moving toward a future where robots assist with daily tasks, but we’re not there yet. The industry needs more time to overcome technical hurdles and deliver genuine value at reasonable prices.

For consumers interested in home robots today, several viable alternatives exist. Amazon Astro provides security and monitoring. LG CLOiD shows promise for task automation. Humanoid robots like 1X NEO offer premium assistance for those willing to invest significantly.

The home robot revolution is coming—just not with Samsung Ballie leading the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Samsung Ballie officially cancelled?

Samsung hasn’t used the word “cancelled,” but the robot has been indefinitely shelved and repositioned as internal research. It’s unlikely to reach consumers in its current form, if ever.

Can I still buy Samsung Ballie somewhere?

No. Ballie was never released to consumers, so there are no units available for purchase. Be cautious of third-party sellers claiming to offer it—these are likely scams or concept replicas.

What’s the best alternative to Samsung Ballie in 2026?

It depends on your needs. Amazon Astro ($1,600) is best for home security. LG CLOiD (coming soon) targets household tasks. 1X NEO ($20,000) offers premium humanoid assistance. Loona ($400-500) provides affordable companionship.

Why did Samsung spend 6 years developing Ballie only to cancel it?

Samsung faced persistent technical challenges with navigation, battery life, and projector functionality. Additionally, the value proposition wasn’t clear enough to justify the high price point, and the home robotics market proved more challenging than anticipated.

Will Samsung release a different home robot?

Possibly. Samsung stated that Ballie’s technology will inform future products. The company may incorporate learnings into other smart home devices or a redesigned robot, but nothing has been announced.

What happened to the Google Gemini AI integration?

The partnership announced in April 2025 was part of the summer 2025 launch plans. When that launch was cancelled, the integration became irrelevant. However, Samsung and Google continue collaborating on AI features for other products like Galaxy smartphones.

Is Amazon Astro better than Ballie would have been?

Astro is actually available for purchase, which already makes it superior in practical terms. Feature-wise, Astro focuses more narrowly on security and monitoring, while Ballie attempted broader functionality. Neither is perfect, but Astro proves the concept can work.

Are home companion robots worth buying in 2026?

For most consumers, not yet. The technology is still early, prices are high, and functionality is limited. However, early adopters and those with specific needs (elder care, enhanced security) may find current options worthwhile.

About the Author:

Mateo is a Smart Home Technology Editor with 5+ years of experience covering smart security, lighting systems, entertainment devices, and emerging home automation technology across various tech and lifestyle platforms. He provides data-driven insights to support informed purchasing decisions.

For more smart home technology coverage and purchasing guides, visit our About Us page.

External References:

• Bloomberg: Samsung’s Ballie Robot Shelved
• LG Electronics Official: CLOiD Announcement
• TechCrunch: Amazon Astro Updates