Purism, a California company, sells a $1,999 smartphone called the Liberty Phone that is assembled, tested and packaged in the USA, with USA-made main circuit boards. Key parts still come from overseas, the New York Post reported on June 23, 2025, citing the Wall Street Journal.
What’s made where
- Made in the USA: the printed circuit board, the mainboard and key circuit modules, plus the PureOS software.
- Imported: the chassis, camera, modem and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules. The screen and battery come from China and the camera from South Korea.
- Founder Todd Weaver said a four-person line assembles the phones by hand, at up to about 10,000 a month. The company has sold fewer than 100,000.
- About half of buyers are USA government workers who want its privacy features, including hardware kill switches.
“There are just some parts that don’t yet have a supply chain.”
Todd Weaver, Purism founder and CEO, to the Wall Street Journal
Why it matters for Made in USA
The Liberty Phone shows how far USA electronics production can go today, and where it stops. Screens, batteries and camera modules aren’t made at scale in the USA. Because of those imported parts, the phone can’t meet the FTC’s “all or virtually all” standard for an unqualified Made in USA claim. The story came out the same week Trump Mobile dropped the Made in USA claim for its T1 phone. Related: Trump Mobile’s T1 claim change.
FAQ
Is the Liberty Phone made in the USA?
It is assembled in the USA with USA-made circuit boards, but the screen, battery, camera, modem and chassis are imported.
How much does it cost?
$1,999.
Who makes it?
Purism, a privacy-focused company founded in 2014.
Source & credit
Source: New York Post, June 23, 2025: “Liberty Phone touts ‘made in the USA electronics’ — but costs $1,999”, citing the Wall Street Journal.