Apple Reported to Manufacture Home Hub Tablet in Vietnam

Apple is reported to be manufacturing its unannounced home hub tablet in Vietnam in a bid to reduce costs and reliance on building in China. The Home Hub is claimed to be a part of the company’s new smart home series, alongside indoor security cameras and a tabletop robot.

As first reported by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to begin manufacturing operations for these devices in the near future. Gurman claims everything is on track as the company is partnering with BYD Co., a Chinese firm, which will handle the home hub device as well as the tabletop robot, which is believed to be released in 2027.

BYD Co. is said to be in charge of final assembly, testing, and packaging. Assuming that all goes well, Apple will expand its contract to include the manufacturing of iPads with BYD in Vietnam. BYD’s portfolio includes EVs, but it has been getting into bed with Apple and has been granted more opportunities within the supply chain.

Apple has been steadily shifting its supply chain towards Vietnam as it undercuts its reliance on China. The Cupertino company already manufactures some iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches and Macs in Vietnam. Adding its upcomnig slate of home hub and smart home devices to the mix, Vietnam will become a serious asset to Apple’s supply chain.

Apple’s home hub is expected to sport a 7-inch square display and offer users the ability to interact with smart home devices, notifications, as well as support FaceTime. Two models are expected to be released. The first is codenamed J490 and has a display mounted to a speaker, resembling a HomePod mini. The second is a display that can be mounted on a wall. All-in-all, it sounds like the home hub will compete with Amazon’s Echo Show displays.

According to Gurman, the home hub has been completed for nearly a year but has been delayed from its March 2025 release due to imperfections with the revamped Siri AI software. Now, it appears as though Apple is targeting a spring 2026 release.

Additionally, Apple is said to be aiming to release an indoor security camera (J450), which may be released by the end of 2026.

By 2027, Apple is expected to reveal its tabletop robot. It’s believed the device will offer the use of the home hub device, but be mounted to a motorized arm. With this, the device would be able to move its display within a workspace or other room. This device is reported to offer a 9-inch LCD display and the AI-powered version of Siri.