- Apple will produce the Mac mini in the US starting later this year
- Production will shift from Vietnam and China to a Houston Foxconn facility
- The Houston warehouse conversion provides 220,000 square feet of Mac mini assembly space
Apple has announced that it will begin manufacturing the Mac mini, its compact mini PC, in the United States later this year, moving some of its production from Vietnam and China.
The company plans to use a Foxconn facility in north Houston, converting a 220,000-square-foot warehouse into manufacturing space.
Apple says this initiative is intended to serve local demand while gradually scaling production to meet broader global needs.
Historical context of American Mac production
Apple has previously manufactured high-end Macs in the United States, most notably the Mac Pro workstation, which was assembled in Austin starting in 2013.
This operation declined over time, highlighting the challenges of domestic production of complex computers.
Apple’s new Houston plan builds on those earlier efforts and shows an ongoing effort to bring certain manufacturing activities closer to home, and also aligns with the company’s broader investment commitment of $600 billion in the US over four years.
This commitment was prompted in part by tariff exemptions and government pressure to increase domestic investment.
The Foxconn facility in Houston currently houses Apple AI server assembly, while the remodeled warehouse will house the Mac mini production line.
Apple reports that it produces thousands of Mac mini devices each week, and the new facility is intended to scale local production over time.
“We are very excited to tell you that later this year we will begin manufacturing the Mac mini right here in this space. Over time, we want to scale the Mac mini here to serve our customers in this space,” said Sabih Khan, Apple’s CEO. The Wall Street Journal.
While most production will continue in Asia, US-based assembly is expected to meet regional demand and reduce reliance on international supply chains.
The Mac mini is popular with software developers and users running AI agent software on desktop systems.
It also complements business laptops in office setups where compact desktops and mobile workstations need to work together effectively.
However, it remains a niche product for the company, contributing less than 5% of Mac sales globally and less than 1% of Apple’s total revenue.
Its limited share of Apple’s sales suggests that domestic production may have minimal effect on global pricing.
Bringing production to the US may increase operating costs, which may or may not translate into lower consumer prices.
Apple’s move reflects a focus on supply chain diversification and local presence rather than an immediate price advantage.
Ultimately, the success of U.S. Mac manufacturing will depend on how effectively the company scales operations and integrates domestic manufacturing into its existing global network.
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