APPLE SETS SMART HOME PRODUCTION IN VIETNAM WITH SCREENED HOMEPOD HUB AND TABLETOP ROBOT

Apple is preparing a new wave of smart-home hardware and shifting final assembly to Vietnam, signaling a deeper geographic diversification of its supply chain.

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Plans include a HomePod-style hub with a builtin display, an indoor security camera, and a motorized tabletop robot that carries a larger screen. BYD—best known globally for electric vehicles and already a key Apple manufacturing partner—will handle final assembly, testing, and packaging for the hub and the robot in Vietnam. The program represents a rare instance in which Apple launches a brand-new product category outside China from day one.

NEW DEVICES DESIGNED FOR SMARTER, MORE IMMERSIVE HOMES

The screened hub targets household control rather than general computing. A seven-inch display is expected to anchor the experience, with a form factor that can sit on a table like a compact smart display or mount on a wall near high-traffic spaces such as kitchens and hallways. Apple has long been rumored to want a central device that ties together Home app controls, FaceTime, Apple TV+ playback, and smart-home automations without requiring an iPhone or iPad nearby. The price target hovers around US$350, positioning the hub above many competing smart displays but closer to Apple's premium hardware ethos.

Vietnam's role in the rollout highlights how Apple is distributing risk and building redundancy across Asia. Over the past few years, the country has grown from auxiliary capacity for AirPods and Apple Watch into a broader manufacturing base that includes iPads and select Mac models. Adding a new category—smart displays and robotics—pushes that evolution further. For Apple, a diversified footprint helps manage tariffs, logistics shocks, and policy changes while keeping lead times competitive. For Vietnam, the program brings higher-complexity products and an influx of supplier ecosystems that follow Apple's anchor orders.

BYD LEADS MANUFACTURING AS APPLE DIVERSIFIES BEYOND CHINA