Apple is anchoring the core supply chain of its most important new product—the first foldable phone, iPhone Duo —– in the United States. From titanium metal and special glass to semiconductor chips and advanced packaging, Apple is systematically reconfiguring its manufacturing footprint in the U.S. through a series of multi-year contracts.
According to Reuters, Apple announced on October 20th that it will purchase up to $100 million worth of titanium metal from a company in Pennsylvania, Perryman, over a period of three years. The materials purchased will be used in multiple products, including iPhone and Duo.
At the same time, Apple has also expanded its collaboration with Qnity Electronics in Delaware to produce thin-film components for iPhone's new 18 Pro variable aperture camera system. Apple stated that nearly 100 of these components are produced by American companies located in more than a dozen states.
Apple's manufacturing layout in the United States covers the entire chain from upstream materials to wafer fabrication and packaging testing, with the semiconductor portion being particularly critical. Among these, TSMC's factory in Arizona is expected to produce over 100 million chips for Apple in 2026; the packaging and testing facility of Amkor Technology, located in Pioria, Arizona, began construction in September 2025, and Apple will be one of its first customers.
Titanium metal and parts procurement: American suppliers are fully entering the market
Apple's titanium metal procurement agreement with Perryman is the latest move in its "Made in America" initiative ( American Manufacturing Program ). The agreement is valid for three years, with a maximum procurement amount of $100 million, and the titanium metal purchased will be used for iPhone Duo as well as other Apple products.
At the same time, Apple has expanded its partnership with Qnity Electronics, which will provide thin-film components for the variable aperture camera systems of iPhone and Pro.
Apple stated that among the iPhone, Duo, and iPhone 18 Pro products, nearly 100 components are sourced from American domestic companies, with suppliers located in more than a dozen states across the United States.
TSMC and Amkor: Accelerating the Localization of Semiconductor Manufacturing
Apple's semiconductor supply chain in the United States is rapidly taking shape. According to Reuters, TSMC's factory in Arizona is expected to produce over 100 million advanced chips for Apple in 2026, and these chips will be used in the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch product lines.
Advanced packaging field keeps up in synchronization. According to 9to5Mac, Amkor Technology held a groundbreaking ceremony for its first large-scale packaging and testing factory in Peoria, Arizona in September 2025, with the construction of the factory building exterior having begun at the beginning of the year. The first two phases of this project are expected to create over 3,500 local jobs, and Apple will be one of the first customers for this factory. In June 2026, Amkor further signed a ten-year agreement with TSMC to jointly expand advanced packaging and testing capabilities in Arizona.
In terms of radio frequency chips, Broadcom announced in July this year that it would invest $1.5 billion to expand and modernize its factory in Fort Collins, Colorado. According to 9to5Mac, this facility will produce advanced radio frequency components for Apple products, and the related multi-year agreement covers over 15 billion chips manufactured in the United States.
Glass and Lasers: Corning and Coherent Expand Local Production Capacity
Apple's manufacturing layout in the United States also extends to the fields of optics and materials.
According to 9to5Mac, long-term partner Corning (Corning) produces specialty glasses, including Ceramic Shield, at its factory in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. It is expected that by the end of 2026, this factory will be responsible for supplying front cover glass for all global iPhone (including iPhone and Duo) as well as Apple Watch.
Coherent supplies Apple with a new generation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology from its Sherman factory in Texas. According to 9to5Mac, this technology supports features such as Face ID on the iPhone and iPad, and is also applied to the redesigned M1 chip's Dynamic Island module in the iPhone 18, Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
iPhone Duo Supply is tight, demand far exceeds expectations
Despite the comprehensive rollout of its supply chain layout, Apple's first foldable screen iPhone Duo still faces significant supply pressures in its initial phase. According to Bloomberg, pre-orders for iPhone Duo began on October 16th, but the expected delivery was postponed until January 2027.
Apple has implemented a measure in multiple markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Spain, restricting each customer to purchase only two units of iPhone Duo. The tight supply situation indicates that even though Apple is actively expanding its production capacity in the United States, the pressure to increase production in the short term cannot be ignored.
