We've been waiting for Samsung's Ballie robot since it was first unveiled in 2020. The company put the project on the back burner until last year when it showed off a redesigned iteration of the Ballie that was even more capable.
However, Samsung didn't release the robot in 2024, which led many to think that perhaps it may never go beyond a proof of concept. Finally the company has confirmed at CES 2025 this week that Ballie will be available for purchase later this year.
The redesigned Ballie appears to be a very capable device. It rolls on wheels so it can follow you around the house. There's even a built-in projector that can display images and video on flat surfaces like walls and ceilings. Sounds awesome, doesn't it?
Ballie is controlled using voice commands. It connects with SmartThings enabled devices so it can let you know what you're running low on in your Family Hub fridge and adjust the temperature to your desired level when you're heading to bed.
Samsung hasn't confirmed how much Ballie is going to cost. The only thing we know is that no major changes are coming when Ballie is made available for purchase later this year. If Samsung had some planned, they would have seen them at CES.
This begs the question: how can Samsung improve its first robot aimed at consumers to make Ballie 2.0 an even better companion? In my view, it would make sense for Ballie to function as a robot vacuum cleaner as well. Come to think about it, the device is already roaming all around the house, wouldn't it be nice if it can clean the floors too at the same time?
Ballie could be more awesome if it had vacuum cleaning capabilities
I can imagine that such a change would require a significant redesign. But it need not be as powerful as the best robot Samsung vacuum cleaners, which include the likes of the Bespoke Jet Bot Combo. It can be the perfect middle-of-the-road solution for those who need some robotic assistance with cleaning up but don't necessarily require a full-fledged robot vacuum.
Such a device will solve a particular problem for people with young kids. Kids can be messy and cleaning up after them is no easy task. Imagine if Ballie helps you out not just by keeping your kids entertained but also picking up after them?
Ballie will currently work as a go-between for you and your robot vacuum. It would be able to relay commands to SmartThings-enabled vacuums, so if you were to ask Ballie to have the floors cleaned up, it would send the relevant command to the vacuum which would then roll out of its dock and do the needful.
Having two separate robots that are moving about isn't an ideal situation for most people. Not everyone has a large house with massive hallways. Multiple robots on the floor increases the risk of trips and falls for children while also adding to clutter in the space.
It would be a match made in heaven if Ballie 2.0 can provide the best of both worlds, unlocking a new dimension in personal robotics and home care. Who's to say when Samsung will release the second iteration of this robot, but whenever it does, I hope it makes this happen.
