Some New iMacs Are Assembled in the USA

Sunday December 2, 2012 6:35 PM PST by Husain Sumra
There are multiple reports that some of the new 21.5-inch iMacs are shipping with an "Assembled in USA" label.

Fortune is reporting that one of their readers walked into a San Jose, California Apple Store and purchased an off-the-shelf iMac that was assembled in the United States. During their teardown, iFixIt also found that their iMac was assembled in the USA, as shown in the photo below.


Fortune acknowledges that this has been noticed online as far back as 2006, though mostly for build-to-order Macs
As it turns out, this is not the first time the assembled-in-USA question has come up. There are several threads on the topic in the Apple support site dating back to 2006. The consensus seems to be that only units made to order -- say, with an extra-high-capacity hard drive -- get their final assembly in the States.
There's a suggestion that the non build-to-order U.S. assemblies are a new phenomenon, but the distinction is far from clear.

Back in 2010, members in the MacRumors forums had reported that they were also receiving new iMacs being labeled as "Assembled in USA", though their exact configurations weren't discussed.

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91 comments


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rnizlek
75 months ago
Wow, I wonder how widespread this is. This is great news, great to see Apple bringing back some manufacturing domestically. I wonder where their factory is.
Rating: 22 Votes
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Prost264
75 months ago
Not that Apple needs any publicity, but could you imagine if they announced that they were shifting just some of their production to the United States.

Lead story on the world news.
Rating: 19 Votes
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unobtainium
75 months ago

Not really. All unions are going to die eventually, as we all can notice in the last 4 years. Eventually, most unions are so not productive and full of ego that they make their corporations to go through bankruptcy in order to get rid of their greedy asses.


Yeah, you're right. I can't wait until we're just like China, with miserable working conditions and wages that result in widespread poverty and a lack of consumer spending leading to an eventual collapse of the domestic economy, as is now a looming threat in China. You're a genius.

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Unions were needed in the days of child labor and 14 hour work days in dangerous factories with no fire exits. Now? Not so much.


"Democracy was needed in the days of corrupt imperialist government and taxation without representation. Now? Not so much."

Actually, with workers' wages rapidly falling in comparison to rising salaries for top management, I would argue that a strong labor movement is needed now more than ever. Too bad there's very little support for it thanks to years of propaganda being shoved down people's throats.
Rating: 16 Votes
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palmerc2
75 months ago
They're assembled by the Senior Execs in their spare time, right at HQ.
Rating: 15 Votes
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daxomni
75 months ago
I'm genuinely surprised Apple isn't making more of this. I'm also rather surprised that MacRumors isn't making a bigger deal out of this. Seems like this has the potential to be a major coup verses other competitors.

Not really. All unions are going to die eventually, as we all can notice in the last 4 years. Eventually, most unions are so not productive and full of ego that they make their corporations to go through bankruptcy in order to get rid of their greedy asses.

If you truly believe it's foregone conclusion then why are you on here bellyaching about it? Looks like you came to the thread with some sort of personal agenda already in mind. Thanks but no thanks for your attempt to further divide America with your culture war nonsense.
Rating: 15 Votes
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marc11
75 months ago
I tell you, if Apple gave me the choice of selecting my assembly location, USA or China and even if they charged me more for the USA one, I would pick it and pay more. I would home other Americans would do the same!
Rating: 11 Votes
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Negritude
75 months ago
Actually, the label originally said, "Assembled in USA by Chinese Immigrants", but they decided it was better to cut it short. :D
Rating: 9 Votes
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SilentLoner
75 months ago

Sorry just a quick rant, I work at a grocery store where i make 10 cents over minimum wage, I am part time, and I have paid 500 dollars to the Union this year.. I work much harder then most of my coworkers infact my mangers even tell me this. The only thing the union has done for me is take my money, and give my lazy coworkers job security... If we were not union, even if i only got minimum wage I would still make more money then paying union dues. Also I would have likely gotten promoted since so many unneeded lazy works would be fired. Not everyone who is in a union likes it.


Being in a union is much like having insurance. If you never need it it's a pain. If you need it. It's a god send.
Rating: 9 Votes
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devman
75 months ago

They're assembled by the Senior Execs in their spare time, right at HQ.


Yep. It's Forstall's new job during his transition time...
Rating: 8 Votes
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mrxak
75 months ago

Being in a union is much like having insurance. If you never need it it's a pain. If you need it. It's a god send.


Unions were needed in the days of child labor and 14 hour work days in dangerous factories with no fire exits. Now? Not so much.
Rating: 8 Votes
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