Samsung's Ballie Robot: Where Is It Now?

Anticipation Versus Reality

As another iteration of CES approaches, we're braced once again for innovations from tech giants and unknown startups alike. Despite the excitement, it's widely known but rarely said out loud that a substantial number of these innovations don’t ever hit the shelves. Typically, companies like Samsung defy this trend, yet here we are, six years since Samsung first introduced its Ballie robot, and it's still MIA.

For those needing a refresher, Ballie is a spherical little robot designed to navigate your abode, casting images on your walls and floors—a sort of mobile virtual assistant. Samsung initially brought this gadget to light at CES 2020, though it was more a proof of concept than a retail-ready item. Then, a global pandemic diverted our attention from quirky robots. Nonetheless, Samsung showcased an improved version at CES 2024, with a promise that it would be available for purchase that year.

Unfulfilled Promises

Yet that assurance fizzled out, and a year later, Ballie returned to CES. This time, Samsung committed to a 2025 release, supplementing their promise with an April press release stating a summer launch in Korea and the US was imminent. It's been radio silence since then.

As CES rounds the corner again, speculation is rife that Samsung might once again spotlight Ballie, pitching it as the ultimate charming robotic buddy who understands you. Observing Ballie in action during a carefully orchestrated demo at CES 2024 left me wondering about its practical benefits and market appeal. Is Samsung holding back because market research aligns with my skepticism? If Ballie were genuinely poised to be a commercial hit, a protracted and very public debut seems unlikely.

Echoes of Past Ventures

The saga of Ballie evokes memories of Samsung's Galaxy Home smart speaker debacle. Launched during the rise of smart speakers from Apple and Google, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Home to compete with voice-controlled aids moving from mobile devices to central home fixtures.

Whispers of the Galaxy Home circulated as early as 2017, culminating in a brief debut in 2018. However, both Samsung and customers questioned its utility—primarily due to the inferior Bibxy assistant, juxtaposed with superior alternatives. Eventually, Samsung just ceased discourse about the product. Interestingly, a shrunken version, the Galaxy Home Mini, saw a limited release in South Korea tied to Galaxy S20 pre-orders, but a widespread rollout never occurred.

Future of Ballie: Hit or Miss?

While Ballie's fate isn't yet sealed like the Galaxy Home’s, Ballie's path has indeed been more publicly navigated, making it tricky for Samsung to abandon quietly. It’s possible we’ll see another iteration showcasing new capabilities soon, or we might receive another nebulous pledge of availability in 2026. After missing the mark for the past two years, my hopes for Ballie's fruition into a purchasable entity remain tempered until I see a pre-order option—an option I'm not sure I would take, given Ballie’s cuteness needs to be matched by functionality to earn my investment.