Apple to Build New Home Robot and Smart Display in Vietnam [Report]

Apple is preparing to manufacture its upcoming lineup of smart home devices in Vietnam, a significant move for a new product category that underscores the company's ongoing effort to lessen its dependence on China. The new hardware includes indoor security cameras, a smart display to serve as a home command hub, and a more advanced tabletop robot, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

For the home hub and the robot, Apple is reportedly teaming up with BYD Co. to handle final assembly, testing, and packaging. The Chinese firm, best known for its electric vehicles, will also expand its manufacturing of iPads in Vietnam as part of the new arrangement. The expansion highlights Vietnam's growing importance as a production center for Apple, which already builds some AirPods, Apple Watches, and Macs in the country.

The diversification is a direct response to rising geopolitical tensions and the threat of tariffs. However, products imported from Vietnam will still face a 20% levy under the reciprocal tariffs announced by the Trump administration in July. The move mirrors Apple's strategy in India, which has become a major production base for U.S.-bound iPhones.


The new home hub, a roughly 7-inch display mounted on a speaker, had its hardware completed nearly a year ago. Its release was originally slated for March 2025 but was postponed after Apple's most advanced Siri features were delayed until 2026. The updated assistant will allow for web-based queries, similar to a chatbot, and offer more precise control over actions inside apps, making it key for a device designed to manage a home. After scrapping additional targets in June and October, Apple is now aiming for a spring 2026 launch. The device will come in two versions: a tabletop model (J490) and a wall-mounted model (J491). Both will include a FaceTime camera, and the software interface will dynamically adjust depending on who is using it. Apple has reportedly targeted a price around $350.

The indoor security camera, codenamed J450, is planned for release as soon as the end of next year. That device will be followed by the tabletop robot in 2027, which is said to resemble an iPad on a motorized arm that can follow users around a room. The robot will reportedly feature a larger 9-inch display and a more conversational version of Siri. Both the hub and the robot will use low-cost LCD panels from Tianma Microelectronics Co. The robotics initiative is said to have its roots in Apple's now-shelved self-driving car project.

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