Apple has announced plans to produce its Mac Mini desktop computer in the United States starting later this year, marking the first time for this product. The manufacturing will take place in a facility in Houston, Texas, alongside expanded production of AI servers. This move is part of a broader commitment to invest $600 billion in American manufacturing over four years.
Apple revealed on Tuesday that it will begin assembling the Mac Mini at a 220,000-square-foot facility in North Houston, owned by Foxconn, the company's long-time manufacturing partner since 2000. This shift involves moving some production from Asian plants, though Sabih Khan, Apple's chief operating officer, indicated that Mac Mini manufacturing will continue in Asia as well, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The Houston site already handles AI server production, which Apple says is ahead of schedule since starting in October. The company plans to create thousands of jobs through this expansion and the opening of a 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center at the same location. This center will offer hands-on training in advanced manufacturing techniques to students, supplier employees, and businesses of various sizes.
CEO Tim Cook stated that Apple is "deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing," with the Mac Mini production representing one step in that direction. The announcement aligns with Apple's $600 billion pledge made last August, prompted by pressures from the Trump administration to boost U.S. manufacturing and mitigate potential tariffs. It echoes a 2019 decision to produce the Mac Pro in Austin, Texas, following a federal product exclusion for components.
The Mac Mini, introduced in 2005, is Apple's entry-level desktop priced at $599. Measuring 5 inches by 5 inches, it requires users to provide their own display, keyboard, and mouse—hence the acronym BYODKM coined by Steve Jobs. CNET reviewer Joshua Goldman described it as a device that "can fit in your hand and be everything from an everyday home office computer to a full-on professional content-creation machine," and a perfect match for Apple's AI features. Market research from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimates it comprises less than 5% of global Mac sales.
Apple is also sourcing over 20 billion chips from 24 U.S. factories and, by the end of 2026, will use cover glass from Corning's Harrodsburg, Kentucky, facility for all new iPhones and Apple Watches. Despite these efforts, much of the tech supply chain remains overseas, with key components like A- and M-series chips produced by TSMC in Taiwan.
