Why is the Librem 5 made in China?

[amosbatto]

@mnoel

the fact that it’s manufactured in China is VERY concerning. We know they put devices in other items to track us, so why would Purism allow a communist country to create their phone?

It is very unlikely that a spy chip would be inserted in the Librem 5. See the following posts for the reasons:

• PinePhone vs Librem 5 - #69 by amosbatto
• PinePhone vs Librem 5 - #74 by amosbatto
• Questions and concerns about hardware, firmware, and supply chains (Librem 14) - #4 by amosbatto
• https://forums.puri.sm/t/china-built-modem/12246/19
• https://forums.puri.sm/t/china-built-modem/12246/42

@mnoel

Paying $1200 more just to have it made in the US is ridiculous.

It is expensive, but look at the price of doing prototype board production in the US (because that is what Purism is having to pay) and the per unit costs of doing production of a couple hundred units and Just-In-Time manufacturing. See: Frequently Asked Questions · Wiki · Librem5 / Librem 5 Community Wiki · GitLab

@mnoel

Are the laptops manufactured in the US?

The final assembly of the Purism laptops happens in Carlsbad, California, but that just means that Purism is putting in the RAM and SSD. Purism hasn’t commented on where its laptops are assembled, but it is almost certainly in China because, over 90% of the world’s laptops are assembled in China.

Likewise, it is likely that Purism is putting in the cellular modem in the Librem 5 in Carlsbad, CA.