• steve
• March 2, 2026
• 57 Comments

Last updated March 2, 2026. Previously updated December 1, 2023 and June 26, 2025. Original post date July 6, 2023.

Those who say that tariffs don’t work need look no further than the smartphone market to see the impact tariffs have made.

When I started this site, Apple had led the way in pumping $275 billion into China to literally build up entire cities devoted to pumping out iPhones. Foxconn, a Taiwanese company, made the foolish move to put all their eggs in the China basket. Predictably, former Foxconn employees in China went on to start Luxshare. It’s a story we’ve seen repeated over and over again—the CCP will allow foreign companies to come in so that their own domestic companies can copy their business model and eventually put them out of business.

Perhaps sensing this, Samsung was the first to make a commitment to diversify outside of China. Unlike Apple, Samsung maintained its own manufacturing operations and thus was able to diversify to Vietnam and India much more easily.

For years, especially after the backlash of China’s shenanigans around COVID-19, Apple promised to diversify out of China, but it was mostly lip service. Two things finally forced Apple’s hand: first, India ignored the naysayers and insisted that smartphones be made domestically. Every smartphone company caved: no one was going to neglect the world’s most populous country. Second, the US government instituted tariffs—a long overdue step to counter years of cheating and abuse from the CCP.

Today, the market leaders in China are Hwawei and Vivo. That’s right, the supposed market that entering China was supposed to open up never happened, despite all of the investment that the West poured into China. Citizens of China—”strongly urged” by the CCP—are snapping up domestic brands, leaving the Western brands on the outside looking in.

The good news for us is that the Western brands still make the best phones, by far. And more and more they’re moving away from China manufacturing. Finally.

Best Cell Phones Not Made in China

1. Samsung Galaxy – Best Android Phones

Just about every Web site, blog, and magazine that reviews Android phones lists the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the best Android phone (and in many cases, the best high-end smartphone overall) you can buy, just as they did the S25, S24 and S23. There is very little not to like about this phone in any of its flavors.

Samsung’s classification system is a little confusing at first, but all you need to remember is that “S” refers to Samsung’s flagship line, “Z” refers to foldable phones, and “A” is their more affordable, mid-range line.

If you’re looking to time your purchase to launch dates (when you can make sure you get the newest phone OR more easily the last generation phone at a discount), Samsung generally announces new phones following this schedule:

S series – January or February of each year at its Galaxy Unpacked event. The most recent announcement was the S26 on February 25, 2026.

Z series – Mid-year, around June to August at their summer Unpacked events. The Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 were both announced on July 9, 2025.

A series – No set announcement date; Samsung will stagger these throughout the year, most likely outside of S and Z launches to spread out revenue.

Here are the best phones in each line.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung’s top-of-the-line 2026 flagship has a massive 6.9″ display, 200MP quad-camera system, built-in S Pen, and advanced AI tools. It’s primarily assembled in Vietnam, with additional production in India. Price range is $1,299 – $1,799+ depending on storage and promotions. It’s best for power users, creators, and professionals who want Samsung’s most advanced phone. Like I said, all of the S series phones were announced on February 25, 2026, so this will be the top model throughout 2026 into early 2027.

Samsung Galaxy S26+

A large 6.7″ display and bigger battery than the base model, while keeping flagship-level performance and cameras. Like most Galaxy S models, it is mainly assembled in Vietnam, with some units produced in India. Price range is $1,099 – $1,299+ depending on storage and deals. It’s best for users who want a big premium phone without the Ultra price tag.

Samsung Galaxy S26

This is a compact flagship offering top-tier performance, nice cameras, and Samsung’s latest AI features in an easier-to-handle 6.3″ size. Like its siblings, it’s predominantly assembled in Vietnam, with some production in India. The price range is $899 – $1,099+ depending on configuration, and it’s best for buyers who want flagship performance without the bulk or highest price tier.

Samsung Galaxy A56 5G

Samsung has outsourced their cheaper phones to China in the past, but all indications are that they’re moving these to Vietnam and India too. This is strong mid-range option with a large AMOLED display, capable cameras, solid battery life, and long software support. Most units are assembled in Vietnam, with significant production in India. The price range is $449 – $599 depending on storage and sales. It’s best for value-focused buyers who want modern features without paying flagship prices. This one was announced in March 2025, so expect the A57 around March to April 2026.

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G

If you’re looking for Samsung quality but a rock bottom price, this is an affordable 5G phone with dependable everyday performance and a long-lasting battery. While it used to be predominantly assembled in China, today it’s generally assembled in Vietnam and India. The price range is $179 – $299 depending on retailer and promotions. It’s best for students, families, and budget-conscious buyers. This was one announced on August 6, 2025, so expect the successor in August 2026.

I put links to Samsung’s site on this page, but of course you can buy these at carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, as well as retailers like Amazon.

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3. iPhone 17 – Best phone overall

Most of the tech media is naming the iPhone the best phone overall. I know there’s a religious debate between Apple and Android users, but having tried both, I tend to agree. Samsung is the superior phone for people who are tech-savvy and want the most advanced technology, but Apple is still the best choice for non-techies.

A few years ago if you told me that I would be recommending an iPhone as the best smartphone overall not made in China, I’d have said you were crazy. Apple’s manufacturing has historically been concentrated in China, particularly in huge Foxconn/PEGATRON facilities in Zhengzhou and Shenzhen, and even today China still assembles a significant share of iPhones globally.

However, there’s an important shift underway for iPhones destined for the U.S. market. Even prior to tariffs, Apple and its suppliers have been accelerating iPhone assembly in India to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing after the CCPs debacles during COVID, with the supposed goal of most U.S. units being India-assembled by 2026. Apple CEO Tim Cook has supposedly confirmed that a majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. were assembled in India over recent quarters.

I use the word “supposed” because Apple has been notorious for intentionally “leaking” these kinds of data to the media, only to turn around and double down on China manufacturing. The good news is that I do see more and more boxes marked “Product of India” among iPhones sold in the USA, but when the political winds change (such as the recent Supreme Court decision), expect Apple to return to the China trough.

My best advice is to buy from a brick and mortar store such as an Apple Store, or order for pickup from an AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile store. That way you can look at the box and if you see “Product of China”, ask the store to look for an India-made one.

Apple announced the current iPhone 17 lineup in September 2025, with availability later that month. Apple traditionally refreshes its flagship iPhones every September, so the next full generation (iPhone 18) is widely expected around September 2026.

iPhone 17 Pro & iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple’s most advanced models, announced in September 2025, feature the A19 Pro chip, 120 Hz ProMotion OLED displays (6.3″ on Pro, 6.9″ on Pro Max), and a triple 48 MP camera system with advanced zoom and high-end video capabilities including ProRes. With premium materials, long battery life, and Apple’s strongest performance this cycle, these are built for power users, photographers, and content creators. The next Pro models are expected around September 2026. The price range is at their premium tier, typically $1099 and up depending on storage and model, with a fully decked out 17 Pro Max reaching $2000. You can get these from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or an Apple Store.

iPhone 17

Also announced in September 2025, the iPhone 17 delivers Apple’s A19 chip, a 6.3″ OLED display with 120 Hz ProMotion, and a 48 MP dual-camera system that handles most photography needs with ease. It brings flagship-level smoothness and performance to a broader audience without Pro pricing. This is the sweet spot for most buyers, with the next update likely in September 2026. The price range is in the upper-mid flagship tier, starting at $799. Buy it from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or an Apple Store.

iPhone Air

Introduced alongside the 17 series in September 2025, the iPhone Air touts itself as “the thinnest iPhone ever”: ultra-thin, lightweight (around 165 g), and featuring a 6.5″ OLED display with ProMotion. Powered by the A19 Pro chip but paired with a streamlined 48 MP single rear camera, it balances high performance with a minimalist aesthetic. It’s ideal for buyers who want premium performance in a lighter, sleeker form factor. A refresh would likely arrive in September 2026. Prices start from $999, between the iPhone 17 and the Pro. Get it at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or the Apple Store.

iPhone 17e (Budget Variant)

Expected in spring 2026, the iPhone 17e is positioned as a more affordable entry into the 17 generation. It’s anticipated to feature a 6.1″ OLED display, modern Apple silicon, and a capable dual-camera system while trimming some higher-end features like full ProMotion support. This model targets value-focused buyers who want a current iPhone without flagship pricing. If Apple continues a spring cadence, its successor would likely appear in spring 2027.

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3. Google Pixel 10

I had included the Google Pixel 9 on this list in the last cycle because Google (similar to Apple) promised that production would move to India and that those units would be heading to the USA. That turned out to be wrong.

Something else that annoyed the heck out of me was the amount of obfuscatory PR coming out of Google. It got to the point where Amazon’s AI swore that their phones were made in the USA (spoiler alert: they’re not).

The reality, as seen clearly in Google’s own regulatory documents, is that they continued to produce heavily out of China and Vietnam. Most Pixel 9s I saw in the USA in 2025 ended up being from China. Google clearly was eating the costs of the tariffs, gambling that the tariffs would end. Thankfully the executive branch is standing firm.

So far, since Google announced their newest model, the Pixel 10, I’m happy to report that I see more and more models made in Vietnam. But YMMV. Make sure to check the box.

Pixel 10

Announced Aug 20, 2025 and shipped Aug 28, 2025, Pixel 10 is the most popular pick that most people will choose: a manageable 6.3″ 120Hz OLED, Google’s Tensor G5 chip, and a more versatile camera setup than prior base Pixels. Country-of-origin varies by unit (Google’s own Pixel 10 regulatory materials reference China + Vietnam in the supply chain), so make sure to check the box. You can get the Pixel 10 directly from Google, or a carrier like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Amazon.

The phone costs roughly $550–$800 new with the lowest storage. If you’re looking to wait it out until the next announcement, expect the “Pixel 11” to be announced around Aug–Sep 2026.

How about the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and the Pixel 10a? While publicly Google is leaking information to the press that they intend to move almost everything to Vietnam, the reality is that since they announced the Pixel 10, the vast majority of online reports was that they (especially the higher end models) were made in China. That doesn’t mean that NMIC models don’t exist, but Google is clearly being non-committal (as we learned the hard way with Apple, if they were serious, they’d state their intentions outright, not leak rumors to the media).

My best advice if you want an Android phone? Get a Samsung. If you really want a Google phone, check the box. And avoid the 10a, which is definitely going to continue to be made in China.

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4. Purism Liberty Phone – Made in the USA, including the supply chain

The Purism Librem 5 had been on this list every year, but unfortunately they’ve had to shift their manufacturing to China to keep their prices lower. Unfortunately, moving to China was probably not a wise move on their part, but for now the made-in-China Librem 5 goes for about $800.

Unlike a lot of manufacturers who sold out to China, Purism didn’t abandon the US. They continue to make the Liberty Phone from their facilties in the USA, and all electronics in the phone is made in the USA as well.

But if you take your privacy seriously, this is the phone for you. They’ve gone completely out of its way to create a smartphone whose #1 priority is privacy. This means using PureOS, a GNU/Linux-based open-source operating system that is free from the prying eyes of Apple and Google (who if you let yourself think about it have power that is much more frightening than the US or China governments).

It’s well documented by now that China has used its manufacturing monopoly to embed literal spyware into hardware and transmit information back to the CCP. Is it conceivable that China manufacturers know so much about Android and Apple phones that they can easily push undetectably code through simple iPhone or Android apps? I’d say it’s not only conceivable, it’s likely happening today.

At a starting price of $1999 this phone isn’t cheap, but it’s by far the best solution to not just preventing China from being rewarded by your smartphone purchase, but preventing them from getting into your house or workplace.

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Conclusion

Do you know of other cell phones that have avoided the China trap? Let us know in the comments!

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Original content from previous posts

For posterity, here are my original versions of the introduction to this post:

Original post from July 2023:

老大哥在看着你

If my Google skills are up to par, that line above says “big brother is watching you” in simplified Chinese. And that’s an apt way to start this particular post.

When George Orwell wrote 1984, he imagined a world where there telescreens were used by Big Brother to monitor the actions of its citizens and to feed them a steady stream of propaganda to control them. When I read the book in the 1980s, I thought to myself, this is ridiculous. No citizen in any country would ever let it get to that point where every single room in every single house is wired up for a central government to watch.

And yet after only a few years, it happened. And we built it ourselves. I had a Palm Pilot, which became a Blackberry, which became an iPhone. And we didn’t need Big Brother to force us to provide every bit of information about ourselves to him–we happily told our little phones who all our friends and acquaintances are, where we live, what our daily habits are, what we purchased, what we ate, what our deepest darkest secrets were, what we liked, what we hated, and how our health was.

It’s bad enough that companies like Apple and Facebook have this information. But can you imagine what the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, or Idi Amin would have done with this kind of information as they tried to isolate and even murder any subversives?

You don’t even need to imagine what the Chinese Communist Party would do with this information. They’re already using it to keep their own citizens in line. And yes, they’re already exploiting our openness to create chaos, stir up dissension, and manipulate our elections. If you don’t see that, you need to open your eyes wider.

I’m sometimes a bit astounded at how naive we can be in the West, and especially in the United States. Back when the federal government imposed rules on Hwawei and TikTok, my boss at the time made a comment to me about how terrible it was that our government was being so racist towards the Chinese. I suppose he made a point to tell me this because he assumed I’d somehow be offended. I told him straight out that even though I’m Chinese–actually especially because I’m Chinese–I fully supported those actions. Because if information is power, our enemies in the CCP know a lot more about us than we know about them.

I know you came here to find a cell phone not made in China, and I’ll get to that 🙂 But clearly, this is much more about finding a product that won’t break or helping our own economy. This is a matter of national security. I have a background in Computer Science and technology. Do you know how easy it is to plant a small piece of code into telecommunications equipment or computer software that will let you infiltrate it in the future? And do you remember how every company that wants to do business in China must enter into joint partnership where they share all of their intellectual property with their China counterparts? And of course, the CCP is embedded not only in state-owned enterprises but private enterprises as well.

And in the interest of being able to buy cheap things on Walmart and Amazon, we’ve been cheering them on for 30 years, throwing our money at them the whole time. It’s time to stop it.

Are any cell phones not made in China?

Happily, not only are there a lot of them, but a lot of really good ones. The best brands to look out for are Asus (made in Taiwan), Samsung (made in South Korea), and Sony (made in Japan). Sadly, LG recently made the decision to discontinue their mobile phone business.

There is one Android phone that clearly stands out. It’s listed on every major “best cell phones” list each year, including CNET, PC Magazine, The Verge, Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, Tech Radar, Forbes, T3, and more. It’s the Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy Ultra. And it’s manufactured in Vietnam and South Korea.

We’ll run down other great phones from ASUS and Sony as well. China-based brands like OnePlus, Huawei, Oppo, and Xiaomi are going to get very aggressive with pricing in the coming years (no doubt subsidized heavily by the CCP) to try to snare uneducated consumers. And beware of Motorola Mobility; while many Moto phones are manufactured outside of China, don’t expect this to last–Motorola was acquired by Lenovo, who themselves are a 100% China company, headquartered in Beijing.

But by continuing to buy the best from the best, you can do your part to keep those China brands where they are.

But wait–aren’t the parts all made in China?

Yes, a lot of them are. But that’s not the point here.

The point of looking for a cell phone that’s not made in China is to try to slow down the speed at which China is taking over this sector, just as it monopolizes manufacturing of so many other sectors like sporting equipment and coffee makers. Right now, the parts that are manufactured in China are largely cheap parts like cases and buttons. But China has never forgotten its Marxist roots, and has its eyes set on dominating the entire “means of production”, which means eventually having the capacity to make everything themselves, from motherboards to semiconductors to video cards and displays.

A lot of that is done out of Taiwan right now, which means Taiwan is employing its own citizens and collecting its own tax revenue. But if Taiwan continues to go the way of American companies by having amoral, psychopathic executives outsource everything to China to boost their stock prices, even if it means giving up their secrets? Well, that will spell the end of everything, up to and including the end of Taiwan as a democracy and the beginning of the end of the United States militarily as China gains an insurmountable military advantage by being able to surveil every American citizen–all bought and paid for by those same American citizens.

Those who do not remember the mistakes of the past are condemned to repeat them. I have to say I am astounded at the speed at which members of Taiwan’s Kuomingtang Party (who are behind most of the big Taiwanese companies that are outsourcing to China) have rushed to enable the same Communist Party that murdered and imprisoned their own parents and grandparents. Let’s hope the spanking they got at the polls and what they see with their own eyes happening in Hong Kong wakes them up so they start to diversify their supply chain.

What about Apple?

Sorry Apple fans, but all iPhones are made in China. You’ve heard the horror stories of Foxconn manufacturing plants where workers are locked inside under sweatshop conditions (some even driven to suicide). But Chinese citizens still stand on line to get those jobs and American citizens still stand on line to get those phones, so Apple executives and their shareholders are happy.

But let’s put the human considerations aside. Even though Apple has a reputation for excellent craftsmanship, let’s think about something. Apple phones are well engineered, but not well manufactured. How can I say this? Here’s a list of Apple products I’ve owned, and things to go wrong with them.

* MacBook Pro 13 2018 – Battery swelled up and Keyboard keys repeat. Apple said they would fix the keyboard for free–but only after I paid $200 to fix the battery. Thanks “Geniuses”.
* Apple iPhone X – Lightning port stopped working completely after warranty expired
* Apple iPhone 6 – Became unusable after it constantly crashed, despite purportedly being supported.
* Apple iPhone 4S – The last iPhone I ever owned that was perfect from beginning to end. Also happens to be the last iPhone where Steve Jobs saw through production from beginning to end. Coincidence?

Apple’s recent success is largely due to the legacy that Steve Jobs left behind, but sadly, Apple is showing cracks in the armor. I have had nothing but negative experiences with Apple Store “Geniuses”, who increasingly are smug in their polo shirts but devoid of any real technical knowledge. They’re not trained to fix problems, they’re trained to use every defect as an excuse to sell AppleCare. “Hey! You know your Apple product is going to break, so why not pay us an extra $200 now so that you don’t have to pay us $600 later? Unless we say the problem is your fault, which we will most of the time”.

Sadly, Apple is doing its best to lose me after being a customer of their for 40 years. And their continued reliance on China manufacturing may be just the thing to get me to switch. Love or hate the last presidential administration, but they did the right thing in establishing harsher tariffs on China–reportedly Google and Apple have started to look more towards India and Vietnam to diversify its manufacturing base. Let’s hope the current administration holds the line so that this positive trend can continue.

Previous update from December 2023

Where I last left off in July, there were a lot of things in motion. Samsung had announced that it was completely out of China, and Google and Apple were promising to move out of China into Vietnam and India, respectively. Did those things ever happen?

Samsung – Samsung is still the only major smartphone brand that has unequivocally moved out of China. Today they make most of their phones out of Vietnam, with factories in South Korea, India, Brazil, and Indonesia to serve local markets. While Samsung still does make some accessories out of China, there is not one new Samsung smartphone being made there.

Google – Neither Google nor Apple have been nearly as decisive as Samsung. Google announced with great fanfare that they were moving production to Vietnam, but when my wife purchased her Pixel 7, it was made in China. Bottom line, Foxconn is rapidly building more manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, but the plants in China are still very much alive, so it’s basically the luck of the draw whether you get one from China or Vietnam. If you must get a Google phone, go to a physical store and check the box yourself.

Apple – Back in 2021 I was excited by all the news I read. “Apple is leaving China!” “Apple will be manufacturing out of Vietnam by the end of next year!!” “Your next iPhone will be made in India!!!”. The reality is, Tim Cook sank $275 billion into China to—literally—build cities that would manufacture iPhones. I’ve come to the conclusion that most of the news that Apple and FoxConn are leaving China are just PR from Apple, giving Apple fanatics (like myself) hope that their next iPhone wouldn’t be made in China.

It’s true that iPads, MacBooks, and AirPods are moving to Vietnam, but I haven’t found one iPhone sold in the US Market that wasn’t made in China. They have cried wolf one too many times. When my iPhone 12 gives up its ghost, I’ll be switching to Samsung.

By the way, you’ll hear a lot of hype about both Google and Apple moving manufacturing to India. In most cases, these factories are being set up to serve the local Indian market. Why? Because India was one of the only countries smart enough to see the growing threat from China. They require all online retailers to divulge country of origin on their products, and they do not hesitate to put tariffs on imports that threaten the national security of India. American lobbyists cry and moan, but let’s look at what happened. Apple and Google are moving manufacturing INTO India to avoid these tariffs, and retailers operating in India (including Amazon) haven’t gone out of business after being forced to divulge country of origin. I only wish that American politicians had more of the backbone that the Indian government does.

The rest – ASUS and Sony remain on my list as brands that will we can be pretty confident will not be sourcing to China–I’ve updated their listings with their newest phones, all of which use the same Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 processor which Samsung and Google put into their latest phones..

Previous Update from June 26, 2025

Probably time for an update on this one.

Since I first wrote this post in 2023 (where does the time go), a lot has happened. The biggest is probably the tariffs that were put in place. Interestingly, even when the most heated tariff discussions were happening, smartphones were always exempt from all the reciprocal tariff discussions.

So when you buy smartphones made in places like Japan, South Korea, India, and Vietnam, manufacturers aren’t paying any tariffs and neither are you.

There is, however, a tariff on Chinese-made smartphones that equals about 20%, the tariff originally placed because of their poor control over fentanyl (which some say is intentional—myself included).

Samsung – Samsung is still the only major smartphone brand that has unequivocally moved out of China. Today they make most of their phones out of Vietnam, with factories in South Korea, India, Brazil, and Indonesia to serve local markets. While Samsung still does make some accessories out of China, there is not one new Samsung smartphone being made there.

Google – Google has made some progress since slow-walking moving their manufacturing to Vietnam—I mentioned previously that my wife’s Pixel 7 was made in China after a lot of PR saying it wouldn’t be (and yes, it had many problems). Today, all Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pros are made in Vietnam.

Apple – Apple was feeding the press pinky promises that they were leaving China as far back as 2021. While that might be true for accessories like AirPods and the Apple Watch, iPhones are still predominantly made in China. If you hear Apple boasting that they’re making phones in India, that’s because India was wise enough to put tariffs in place that forced Apple to make them there to access their market. Some low-end Apple phone made here can be purchased in the US and the EU; I’ll detail that below.

Asus – I had placed the ASUS ROG 5, 6, and 7 on this list, but sadly it fell off, as ASUS is manufacturing the ROG 8 in China. It always astounds me when a Taiwanese company sells out their brand in this way.

Sony – The Sony Xperia had also been a perennial choice on this list. Sony used to make these out of their own factories in Thailand. Sadly, Sony has stopped manufacturing these and is not outsourcing, starting with the Xperia 1 VII. Early reports is that they’re being made out of China. It’s a sad end to an amazing legacy.

Nokia – The Nokia 6300 also fell off the list, as it’s now made by FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Foxconn that operates primarily out of China.