The three main choices when selecting a new phone are: which OS, which brand, and which model? We just assume the handset will inevitably be manufactured in China. Purism is offering an alternative, though, in the form of a (very expensive) smartphone made in America.
Purism is a US company offering hardware running PureOS, a Linux distribution based on Debian. One of its products is a smartphone called the Librem 5, which can be purchased for $699. However, as the Librem 5 is a phone that "focuses on security by design and privacy protection by default," the fact it's assembled in China can be viewed as detrimental to that claim, even though Purism ensures a secure supply chain.
This week, Pursim went a step further in offering consumers a secure smartphone by announcing the Librem 5 USA. It's the same phone as the Librem 5, but with one key difference: the Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) inside is fabricated in a US facility.
Purism already manufactures the Librem 5 development kits and Librem Key USB security token in the US, but it's now expanded the same facility to include a version of its smartphone. While this news will be met positively by the very security conscious among you, there is a downside and it involves price.
The Librem 5 USA will cost an eye-watering $1,999 compared to the $699 price tag of the China version (you can check out the phone spec here). There's also a long wait for this new version, with pre-orders not expected to ship until the third quarter of 2020. If you've already ordered a Librem 5 that hasn't shipped yet, it's possible to upgrade to the USA version.
Purism rightly points out this is a premium product, but also a way of supporting a company focused on offering an open, private, and secure smartphone. It's also a smartphone with guaranteed long-term support through "security updates, privacy improvements, bug fixes, and new features… for the lifetime of your device, without compromising performance." Purism believes you'll happily be using your Librem 5 for "years to come" and that it will age like a good wine.