Apple’s US iPhone Production Dreams Still Out of Reach, Say Experts

TDT | Manama

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Despite long-standing calls for more Apple products to be manufactured in the United States, industry experts continue to argue that reshoring iPhone production remains an unrealistic goal — both economically and logistically.

In a 2012 interview with renowned tech journalists Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook echoed the late Steve Jobs’ sentiments about US-based production, expressing hope that Apple could one day build its devices domestically. “I want there to be [US-made Apple products]… and you can bet that we’ll use the whole of our influence on this,” Cook said at the time.

More than a decade later, however, the feasibility of building iPhones on American soil is still being questioned.

Dan Ives, Global Head of Technology Research at Wedbush Securities, called the idea a “fictional tale” during an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett last month. Ives pointed out that replicating the intricate, cost-efficient production ecosystem found in Asia would be prohibitively expensive in the United States.

“You build that supply chain in the US with a fab in West Virginia and New Jersey, they’ll be $3,500 iPhones,” Ives said, referencing fabrication plants — advanced manufacturing facilities critical to the production of semiconductors and other components.

Even a partial relocation of operations would carry a steep price tag. According to Ives, it would cost Apple approximately $30 billion and take at least three years to shift just 10% of its supply chain to the United States.

He reiterated that position following former President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose new tariffs on China, stating, “the concept of Apple producing iPhones in the US is a fairy tale that is not feasible.”

While full-scale iPhone production in America may not be on the immediate horizon, Apple has signaled a commitment to expanding its domestic footprint. Earlier this year, the company announced a $500 billion investment to bolster its US operations.

The plan includes building a new facility in Houston to manufacture servers — a function previously handled abroad — in support of Apple Intelligence, its latest suite of artificial intelligence tools. Additionally, Apple will expand its data center capacity in multiple states and invest in corporate infrastructure and original content production for Apple TV+ across 20 states.

Though reshoring iPhone production remains a challenge, Apple’s investments suggest the company is taking steps to strengthen its US presence in response to political and economic pressures.