Apple plans new tabletop robot and home hub project in Vietnam

Apple’s smart home revolution

Apple is boldly stepping into the heart of your home with a new lineup of smart devices. This strategic move marks a significant push into the connected living space, challenging established players like Amazon and Google.

The tech giant is developing a suite of innovative products, including a smart display and an advanced robot, to become the central command for your household.

If realized, the smart hub and robot would be among Apple’s most significant new product-category moves in years.

A new hub for your home

Imagine a central screen that seamlessly controls your lights, security system, and entertainment. Apple is creating a smart display designed specifically to be the command center for your entire house, putting control at your fingertips.

This new hub will come in two distinct styles to fit your lifestyle and decor. You will be able to choose a convenient tabletop model that resembles a HomePod with a screen or a sleek version designed to be mounted directly on your wall for a permanent, integrated look.

Meet the tabletop robot

Apple’s most futuristic project is an ambitious tabletop robot capable of moving its screen. This innovative device will use a sophisticated motorized arm to physically follow you around your kitchen or workspace, creating a dynamic interaction.

Reports suggest that Apple is targeting a 2027 launch for a tabletop robot, a signal of a serious consumer-robotics push, and notes the device draws on expertise from Apple’s previously shelved car efforts, which gave its engineering teams a head start on complex hardware and software work.

Built in Vietnam, not China

Multiple reports say Apple plans to build these devices in Vietnam rather than manufacturing new categories in China first. A notable shift that reflects Apple’s ongoing efforts to diversify its supply chain amid global trade tensions and shifting logistics strategies.

This important change directly helps Apple reduce its heavy, long-standing reliance on Chinese manufacturing infrastructure and labor. It’s a clear and direct response to rising global trade tensions and the persistent risk of supply chain disruptions that have impacted the industry.

Team up with an EV maker

Bloomberg and other outlets report that Apple will work with BYD on final assembly, testing, and packaging in Vietnam for the hub, camera, and robot.

BYD will expertly handle the crucial final assembly, rigorous testing, and meticulous packaging within its specialized Vietnamese facilities. This growing partnership also solidifies plans to significantly expand iPad manufacturing with BYD in the country, deepening their collaborative relationship.

The price of a premium hub

Industry reporting places the hub’s likely starting price at about $350, considerably higher than many competing smart displays, though Apple has not confirmed pricing.

Recognizing this challenge, Apple’s operations team is already actively exploring various ways to reduce the initial manufacturing costs. Their goal is to potentially lower the retail price for the product’s initial release or, more likely, for subsequent generations of the device.

Why was the smart hub delayed

The hardware for Apple’s home hub was actually completed and ready for production nearly a full year ago. Its launch was strategically postponed because the intelligent, next-generation software behind it was far from finished.

The device’s official debut is now firmly planned for Spring 2026, as it waits for a major Siri upgrade to be completed. This powerful, next-generation artificial intelligence is absolutely crucial for making the hub truly useful and responsive in a daily home environment.

A smarter Siri is coming

The new Siri, expected to debut early next year, will be far more powerful and conversational than the current version. You will be able to ask complex, multi-part questions and control individual app functions with much greater precision.

This supercharged, context-aware assistant serves as the essential brain that will power all of Apple’s new home devices. It aims to finally and effectively compete with modern AI chatbots and other advanced smart assistants already on the market.

Your personalized home screen

Apple’s new hub will include an advanced camera system that can instantly recognize different members of your household. The screen’s entire interface will then dynamically change and adapt to show that specific person’s favorite apps, daily schedules, and preferred smart home controls.

This highly personalized experience mirrors and aims to exceed similar features found in Amazon’s latest Echo Show devices. It ensures the device feels like it truly belongs to and understands everyone in the family, from parents to kids.

A new security camera arrives

Alongside the innovative hub, Apple is developing its own branded indoor security camera for the first time. This dedicated device is currently planned for release as soon as the end of 2026, expanding their home ecosystem.

It will seamlessly and securely integrate with the home hub display and the rest of Apple’s privacy-focused ecosystem. This offers a more unified and potentially more secure alternative to popular cameras from companies like Ring or Nest, which are owned by Amazon and Google.

The high-tech robot’s specs

The advanced tabletop robot will feature a larger screen, approximately 9 inches, which is noticeably bigger than the home hub’s 7-inch display. Its complex motor system has faced some significant engineering challenges during the development phase, requiring intricate solutions.

Apple’s team is also working hard to find truly compelling and unique AI-driven tasks for the robot to perform, beyond simple movement. These technical and software factors collectively contribute to its later release date and its inevitably higher expected price tag.

Vietnam’s growing tech role

Apple already manufactures many of its popular products, including AirPods, Apple Watches, and some Macs, within Vietnam. This new smart home move further solidifies the Southeast Asian country’s status as a crucial global manufacturing hub for the tech giant, beyond just assembly.

Other major electronics companies are also rapidly shifting significant production capacity to Vietnam from China. This trend highlights a broader industry-wide effort to diversify supply chains and reduce geographical concentration risks after recent global disruptions.

Tariffs remain a factor

Moving production to Vietnam does not completely shield Apple from costly US import taxes imposed by recent trade policies. Products imported from Vietnam into the United States currently face a substantial 20% tariff under rules announced by the Trump administration.

This means American consumers will still feel the financial impact of these ongoing trade tensions at the checkout counter. The final retail product price must absorb these complex global supply chain realities, affecting overall affordability and competitive positioning.

A major business strategy shift

Many industry experts long believed Apple’s next groundbreaking product would be a fully autonomous electric car. The high-profile cancellation of that massive project freed up considerable resources, technology, and top engineering talent for this new smart home push.

The tabletop robot, in particular, directly uses ideas, algorithms, and personnel from the former car team. This strategic pivot clearly shows how Apple is dynamically adapting to find its next major growth area beyond the smartphone, which is now a mature market.

Challenges in a crowded market

Apple faces incredibly stiff competition from deeply entrenched players like Amazon, Google, and Samsung in the smart home arena. Its HomeKit system has sometimes been criticized for working with fewer third-party devices than its more open rivals, limiting consumer choice.

To succeed, Apple will need to aggressively ensure its new products work seamlessly with a wide array of smart gadgets from other brands. Greater interoperability and partnership announcements are considered absolutely key to winning over customers who already own mixed-brand devices.

Privacy as a key selling point

Apple plans to aggressively leverage its strong market reputation for robust user privacy and data security as a primary feature. In an era of increasing consumer cybersecurity concerns, this could be a major advantage for privacy-conscious homeowners selecting a smart home system.

This focus on keeping data safe, encrypted, and local on the device is a key selling point for many high-end, custom smart home installations. It effectively distinguishes Apple from competitors who often rely more heavily on cloud data processing and storage.

If a privacy-focused approach is important to you, see how it’s playing out on the global stage as the EU scrutinizes Apple, Google, and Microsoft over scams.

A glimpse into your future home

Apple’s decisive move into advanced smart homes is a clear statement about its future direction and priorities. By building entirely new product categories in a new country from day one, the company is making a huge bet on the connected home’s potential.

With smarter AI, futuristic robots, and a freshly diversified manufacturing strategy, Apple is aiming to fundamentally redefine how we interact with our living spaces. The American home of 2026 and beyond is looking a lot more intelligent, responsive, and intuitively connected.

Curious about the AI that will power it all? See how Siri’s major upgrade aims to challenge ChatGPT.

Which of these new Apple gadgets has you most excited? Share your thoughts in the comments and give this a like if you’re ready for a smarter home.

Read More From This Brand:

• Musk takes Apple and OpenAI to court
• iCloud+ tricks Apple hides in plain sight
• Is Apple quietly leaning on Google’s AI?

Don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content right here on MSN.

If you liked this story, you’ll LOVE our FREE emails. Join today and be the first to get stories like this one.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.