Apple Planning $350 Smart Display (2026) and Robotic Desktop Device (2027), Manufactured in Vietnam
Do Son 
According to a report by Bloomberg News, Apple is actively expanding its smart home product line, with plans to launch a smart display featuring an integrated FaceTime camera in 2026, followed by the introduction of a desktop robotic device in 2027—a development expected to mark a major breakthrough for Apple in the smart home sector.
Rumors surrounding Apple’s smart display have circulated for some time, but Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has now revealed that this device—envisioned as the central hub of the modern home—will feature a 7-inch square LCD screen equipped with a built-in FaceTime camera. Its operating system will reportedly adapt dynamically to the user’s identity, offering a personalized interface experience.
The device will include an enhanced version of Siri, redesigned to behave more like conversational AI assistants such as ChatGPT, capable of leveraging online resources to provide contextual answers. Although initially slated for release this year, Apple has decided to delay the launch until spring 2026.
According to the report, two models are planned: the J940, which combines a display with a HomePod mini–style speaker, and the J491, a version designed specifically for wall mounting. Both will support smart home controls, music playback, and seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem of apps and devices. The target price is rumored to be around $350, though it remains unclear which version this applies to.
As for the desktop robot expected in 2027, it will essentially mount the smart display on a motorized robotic arm, allowing it to move and reorient itself within the user’s environment—a concept viewed as Apple’s answer to Amazon’s Echo Show 10. This model will feature a larger 9-inch display, but development has reportedly been delayed due to engineering challenges related to its motor system.
A particularly notable shift lies in Apple’s manufacturing strategy: all three of these devices will be produced in Vietnam, marking a significant departure from Apple’s traditional reliance on Chinese manufacturing for first-generation products. Since 2020, the company has been diversifying its supply chain, gradually shifting portions of iPad and MacBook production to Vietnam. Should Donald Trump return to the U.S. presidency, escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing could further reinforce Apple’s pivot toward alternative production bases.
These forthcoming products signal Apple’s strategic response to intensifying competition in the smart home market and its adaptive reconfiguration of global manufacturing to align with shifting geopolitical and economic realities. With these devices, Apple’s smart home ecosystem is poised to become more cohesive, intelligent, and deeply integrated than ever before.
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