When you open up a new Apple gadget — whether it be a new MacBook Pro or an iPhone 5 — the packaging will almost always tell you it’s been “designed by Apple in California” and “assembled in China.” But Apple’s new iMacs are an exception to that, because some of the all-in-ones are being assembled in the good old United States of America.
One early adopter of the new 21.5-inch iMac contacted Fortune to say that his new computer wasn’t assembled in China, but in the U.S., instead — and he provided a picture to prove it. iFixit’s recent teardown also revealed that their machine was “Assembled in USA,” too.
Unfortunately, however, not all of the new iMacs are homegrown. Fortune checked with another iMac buyer, whose packaging said “Assembled in China” like other Apple gadgets. Their report also notes that this isn’t the first time Apple has built its Macs in the U.S. In fact, the “Assembled in USA” mark has been popping up since 2006 — but only on built-to-order Macs that have non-standard specifications.
This time around, however, it seems standard, off-the-shelf Macs are being made at home, too.
It’s unclear whether this will be a permanent thing, or whether Apple has taken this step simply to cope with initial demand of the iMac — only time will tell. Foxconn is already hard at work putting together the hugely popular iPhone 5 and iPad mini, and so helping out with iMac assembly may be one way of avoiding production problems.
Source: Fortune