They can be, and have been. Motorola and Nokia had very automated production facilities.[1]  Even Foxconn in Shentzen is converting to automated assembly.<p>Iphones were not originally designed for easy automated assembly; early ones had internal discrete wires which had to be soldered.  Newer ones use custom flexible printed wiring, which is more suited to automated assembly.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=p-fLzrTVQjg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=p-fLzrTVQjg</a>