Apple plans smart home hub with display – launch in spring 2026

Apple is apparently preparing to launch its first smart home hub with a display—a device that could become important not only for the company's product portfolio, but also for the way Apple develops and produces new devices in the future. According to information from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the Smart Home Hub is scheduled to launch in spring 2026. Particularly noteworthy is that Apple is choosing Vietnam for the first time for this project, rather than China as before. The target price has also already been announced, suggesting a clearly defined market strategy.

For years, there has been speculation about when Apple will enter the smart home market with its own display device. While other manufacturers like Google and Amazon have long offered their own smart displays, Apple has remained cautious. Now, there are mounting indications that the company is about to take this step – with a product that is not only technologically but also strategically significant. The planned production in Vietnam marks a departure from the previous practice of manufacturing new product categories first in China.

Production in Vietnam: Strategic new beginning

According to Gurman , the Smart Home Hub will be assembled by the Chinese company BYD, which is primarily known as a manufacturer of electric vehicles for Europe and Asia. Unlike previous products, however, manufacturing will not take place in China, but in Vietnam. According to the report, this applies not only to the Smart Home Hub, but also to other planned smart home products.

Insiders report that Apple will have all three new devices—the Smart Home Hub, indoor security cameras, and a future smart display with a robotic arm—produced in Vietnam. This would represent a significant shift in the company's approach, as Apple has always manufactured new devices in China first before later expanding production to other countries.

Apple also apparently plans to expand iPad production with BYD in Vietnam. This could make iPad manufacturing a key long-term production branch for the company in the country.

Product details and schedule

According to Gurman, the Smart Home Hub is scheduled to launch in spring 2026. Two versions of the device are currently in development. One version is similar to the HomePod mini, but features a 7-inch display and serves as a central hub for controlling smart home devices. The second version will be wall-mountable and provide a permanently installed control center in the home.

In addition to the Hub, Apple is also working on indoor security cameras, according to the report, which could be released as early as the end of 2025. Another, more advanced version of the smart display, equipped with a robotic arm, is not expected until 2027.

Price and market position

According to Gurman, Apple has set a clear price target for the Smart Home Hub: around $350. This positions the company between the cheaper models from Google or Amazon and its own premium products, such as the iPad. The price suggests that Apple sees the Hub as a middle ground between a smart speaker and a smart display—a device that integrates seamlessly into the existing Apple ecosystem while offering new features for the smart home.

The planned integration into HomeKit and the use of Siri as a voice assistant should ensure that the Hub serves as the central control unit for all compatible devices in the Apple universe.

Significance for Apple's production strategy

The decision to manufacture new products in Vietnam instead of China is considered a strategic milestone. Apple is apparently testing a new model: developing and manufacturing an entirely new product line outside of its current core location. This could lay the foundation for a broader geographical diversification of production in the long term.

The move fits with Apple's efforts to reduce its dependence on China. In recent years, the company has already partially shifted production of individual devices—such as the iPhone 15 and MacBooks—to countries like India and Vietnam. With the Smart Home Hub, however, Apple is going a step further, as the device introduces an entirely new product category.

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Apple sets a precedent for change and independence with its new Smart Home Hub

The planned Apple Smart Home Hub represents more than just a new device in the product line. It symbolizes a profound shift in the company's development and production strategy. With the decision to have the Hub and other smart home products manufactured in Vietnam, Apple is sending a clear signal of diversification and independence. When the device launches in spring 2026, it will not only serve as a new interface in the smart home, but also as an example of how Apple is responding to global challenges. The Smart Home Hub will become a symbol of a company that is adapting its production structures, expanding its innovative power, and systematically consolidating its position in the smart home market. (Image: Shutterstock / zhu difeng)