When the updated Apple Vision Pro lands in stores tomorrow with the M5 chip and the new Dual Knit Band, its box label will also feature a key change from the original version: the words “Product of Vietnam”. Here are the details.
Apple’s balancing act continues
As reported by Bloomberg, while the first Apple Vision Pro was built in China, the updated version launching tomorrow will be assembled in Vietnam, marking another step in Apple’s ongoing push to diversify its supply chain.
Bloomberg also notes that the same doesn’t apply to the Dual Knit Band sold separately:
While packaging for full Vision Pro units shows a “Product of Vietnam” label, customers who purchased the new Dual Knit headband as a standalone item have noticed that the accessory is made in China. The original Vision Pro was manufactured by China-based Luxshare Precision Industry Co., which also makes some AirPods.
The launch comes at a delicate time, as Apple navigates the rekindled commercial tension between Beijing and Washington, and pressure from both countries to signal domestic commitments that, by all accounts, seem mutually exclusive.
While the Trump administration has been pushing for more U.S.-based manufacturing and a reduced reliance on Chinese suppliers, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently spent a few days in China, where he reportedly also told local officials that the company will keep investing in the country.
In practice, since the trade war began in late April, Apple has shifted production of U.S.-bound devices to countries such as Vietnam, India, Thailand, and Malaysia, while maintaining most of its manufacturing in China to meet the bulk of its global demand.
The decision to assemble the Apple Vision Pro (M5) in Vietnam may have been favored by the headset’s relatively low production volume, as well as the fact that the updated model introduced only minor hardware (and, by extension, manufacturing) changes compared to the original version.
Still, it’s a symbolically noteworthy step in Apple’s broader effort to diversify its advanced manufacturing away from China, amid reported plans to grow its portfolio of wearables and head-mounted devices in the coming years.
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