Apple to Begin Making MacBooks in Vietnam by Mid-2023 [Report]

Apple plans to start manufacturing its MacBook laptops in Vietnam by mid-2023, according to a report in the Nikkei Asian Review. The company has allegedly tapped Foxconn to start making MacBooks in the country by as early as May.

Apple has been working to add non-China production sites for all its major product lines; however, it's taken a while for MacBook due to its complex supply chain.

"After the MacBook production shifts, all of Apple's flagship products basically will have one more production location beyond China ... iPhones in India and MacBooks, the Apple Watch and iPads in Vietnam," one person with direct knowledge of the matter told Nikkei Asia. "What Apple wants now is an 'out of China' option for at least part of production for all of its products."


Plans to move some MacBook production to Vietnam have been underway for nearly two years, with a test production line already set up.

China's strict COVID policies have accelerated Apple's diversification efforts. The company began production of AirPods in Vietnam in 2020, then expanded to production of Apple Watch and iPad earlier this year. Apple has also been boosting production capabilities in India with iPhone 14 production starting there in October.

Chiu Shih-fang, a supply chain analyst with the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, told Nikkei that these changes to the tech supply chain are irreversible.

"In the past, most people in the industry always hoped that the situation could ease and things could go back to the good old days," said Chiu. "But this time, they realize there is no way of turning back and no matter what they need to prepare alternatives beyond China."


Note that if you are considering purchase of a MacBook there are some significant deals currently available.
● M1 MacBook Air - $799 ($200 off)
● M2 MacBook Air - $1049 ($150 off)
● M2 13-inch MacBook Pro - $1149.99 ($149.01 off)
● M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) - $2099 ($400 off)
● M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro - $2099 ($400 off)

More details in the full report linked below...

Read More