‘Made in US’ iPhone could cost $3,500 without Asian supply chain: Analysts warn of massive cost surge

Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, told CNN that the notion of producing iPhones entirely within the U.S. is a “fictional tale.” He also cautioned that attempting to recreate Apple’s intricate Asian supply chain domestically would lead to significantly higher production costs.

New Delhi: A ‘Made in US’ Apple iPhone can cost a whopping $3,500 (more than Rs 2,98,000) in absence of a fully-integrated supply chain in the country, top analysts have said.

Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, told the CNN that the idea of fully domestic iPhone production is a “fictional tale.”

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Ives also warned that replicating Apple’s complex Asian supply chain in the US would result in massive cost increases.

The report quoted him as saying that “You build that (supply chain) in the US with a fab in West Virginia and New Jersey. They’ll be $3,500 iPhones”.

Moreover, it would take Apple at least three years and a massive $30 billion just to shift 10 per cent of its supply chain to the US, according to market watchers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the company’s latest quarterly earnings call that “the majority” of iPhones shipped to the US for the June quarter will soon come from India.

US President Donald Trump has threatened a 50 per cent tax on all imports from the European Union as well a 25 per cent tariff on Apple products unless iPhones are made in the US.

However, according to informed sources, India’s competitive edge makes it a natural choice for tech giants like Apple, and the tech giant has assured the government of its commitment to manufacture its products and boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The country has shown big companies like Apple the value of “Make in India”. According to people close to the matter, “There is no change in Apple’s investment plans in India”.

India has become a key hub for Apple’s global supply chain in recent years. Global tech giants such as Apple see a lot of economic sense in setting up manufacturing facilities in the country.

Apple registered the highest growth of 23 per cent among the top five brands in India in the January-March quarter, shipping a first-quarter record of three million units, an IDC report said. In the March quarter, iPhone 16 was the highest shipped model, accounting for 4 per cent of overall India shipments during Q1 2025.

India is increasingly becoming a critical and strategic node in Apple’s global supply chain — not just owing to its growing attractive domestic market, but also its expanding export capabilities and conducive policy environment, according to Prabhu Ram, VP at CyberMedia Research (CMR).