If you’re one of the many iPhone users out there, you probably use your device daily for communication, entertainment, and a range of other basic tasks. But have you ever thought about where your device actually came from?
Apple sources components from over 200 large-scale companies like Qualcomm, Sony, and Samsung. Most iPhone parts are manufactured in China, and the devices are assembled by two Taiwanese companies, Foxconn and Pegatron. Recently Apple has begun moving some production to India.
Although iPhones are designed by Apple engineers out in California, each device goes through an extensive journey before it arrives in a user’s hands. There’s a lot to factor in when it comes to components, manufacturing, and assembly. Let’s take a look at exactly where your phone comes from.
Where Are iPhones Made?
The answer to where iPhones are made isn’t a straightforward one, since Apple products are designed in California but then manufactured all across the globe.
Furthermore, iPhones aren’t assembled in the same places where their parts are manufactured. Although manufacturing and assembly sound similar, they’re entirely different processes.
iPhone Parts Manufacturing
Manufacturing consists of creating the components that are used to build a complete iPhone. Apple doesn’t manufacture the parts themselves. Instead, Apple sources components from over 200 different companies capable of large-scale production, like Qualcomm, Sony, and Samsung.
Each manufacturer specializes in a specific part of the iPhone, such as the camera, battery, or computer chip.
Camera manufacturers like Sony are based in Japan and have several locations across the globe. Samsung may work on the batteries, but they’re based out of South Korea and have over 75 locations in other countries.
iPhone Assembly
Assembling consists of taking all the individual components and combining them into a finished iPhone. The iPhone assembly process is more streamlined, as only two companies complete the process for iPods, iPhones, and iPads.
All the manufactured components are sent to Foxconn and Pegatron, which are based in Taiwan.
Foxconn’s official name is Hon Hai Precision, and it’s Apple’s longest-running partner in assembling iPhones and other devices. They make most iPhones in the Zhengzhou, China region.
The factory spans over 2.2 square miles and employs over 300,000 associates. This large-scale facility can create over 500,000 iPhones every day.
Meanwhile, Pegatron assembles about 20-30% of all iPhones, making it another essential business partner for Apple.
Why Aren’t Apple Products Made in the USA?
There are several likely reasons why Apple products aren’t assembled in the United States. Let’s take a look at each:
Nearly Half of Apple’s Suppliers Are Chinese
Nearly half of Apple’s product supplies are made by Chinese companies, making it a profitable solution for both manufacturing and assembly. Apple sends large orders to Chinese companies to create components for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.
These companies profit from the large orders, while Apple benefits from lower wages and higher efficiency rates.
China Has Low Production Costs
China has a low production cost for Apple products for a few reasons. Perhaps most importantly, China has a lower working wage compared to the United States. This allows Apple to produce products for lower costs and gain a higher profit margin.
Components Are Made in China, Making Assembly Easy
An incredibly large portion of Apple’s components are manufactured by Chinese companies. Assembling the devices in the same region or nearby becomes a no-brainer, as they don’t have to pay higher transportation fees.
Chinese companies assemble and package iPhones, creating the “Assembled in China” message on the back of the device.
China Has High Human Resources
China has one of the largest workforces in the world, allowing them to meet the high demand for Apple products. Apple utilizes this large amount of human resources to assemble half a million iPhones per day at some facilities.
Easy Access to Asian Market
Apple products are popular in countries around the world, but shipping phones from the US to Asia and other faraway regions isn’t cheap. Having products produced in China means faster, cheaper access to vendors in Asia and the vast markets they target.
The Final Word
So, where exactly are iPhones developed, manufactured, and assembled? Although iPhones and Apple devices are designed in California, they’re manufactured across the globe.
Apple products require several different components that are created by large-scale companies, mainly in China.
Apple products are primarily assembled by two Taiwanese companies that oversee the Apple assembly process, including Foxconn and Pegatron.
Foxconn is Apple’s longest-standing business partner and has facilities that can build 500,000 devices per day. Pegatron assembled nearly 30% of devices at the launch of the iPhone 6, making them a significant partner as well.
The answer may not be straightforward, but it’s almost safe to say most iPhone components come from and are assembled in China. Hence why you see the “Assembled in China” tag on the back of your device.