A “Made in the USA” iPhone would come with a hefty price tag. Analysts estimate that labor costs alone would increase the price by 25%, bringing the cost of the current $1,199 iPhone model to around $1,500.¹ However, another analyst predicts that a fully U.S.-made iPhone could cost as much as $3,500.
The main reasons for this significant price hike are the high labor costs in the U.S. compared to China, where most iPhones are currently manufactured. Additionally, Apple would need to invest heavily in building new manufacturing facilities and replicating the complex production ecosystem that exists in Asia.
It’s worth noting that even if Apple were to bring some iPhone production to the U.S., it’s unlikely that the entire production process would be relocated. Instead, final assembly might be the most likely aspect to be moved to the U.S., with component manufacturing remaining in Asia.
