Skip to main content

India

See All Stories

Major ramp-up in Apple’s plans to shift production from China, as Foxconn quadruples investment in Indian plant

Major ramp-up in Apple's plans to shift production from China | iPhone 15 models on display

We’re today learning of a major acceleration in plans to shift more production of Apple devices from China to India. In less than one year, Foxconn has increased its planned investment in an Indian plant by almost 400%.

It follows a recent report that Apple has told its battery suppliers that it would like as many iPhone 16 batteries as possible to be manufactured in India …

Expand Expanding Close

iPhone 16 batteries should preferably be made in India, Apple tells suppliers

iPhone 16 batteries (iPhone 15 battery shown)

As part of the company’s continuing work to reduce its dependence on China, Apple has reportedly told suppliers that it has a preference for iPhone 16 batteries being made in India.

One battery supplier which already manufactures in India has been asked to scale-up production there, and Chinese suppliers have been urged to establish battery factories in the country …

Expand Expanding Close

USB-C charging port law in India could cause three big problems for Apple

USB-C charging port law | Close-up of port on iPhone 15

India is planning to copy the European Union’s USB-C charging port law, requiring all smartphones to adopt the standard, which poses three big problems for Apple – and not just in India.

A new report today says that Apple is lobbying either for an exemption for older models still manufactured in the country, or delayed enforcement of the proposed legislation …

Expand Expanding Close

Report: Nearly 14% of iPhone units shipped in 2023 were assembled in India

AAPL growth in India | Apple BLK, Mumbai | Apple India iPhone

Apple has invested a lot of money in assembling some of its products in India to reduce its reliance on China. Although it still has a long way to go, a report today by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that nearly 14% of iPhone units shipped in 2023 were assembled in India, showing that Apple is progressing towards its goals.

Expand Expanding Close

Apple sends iPhone hack warning to Indian opposition leader; walks tricky line

iPhone hack warning | A copy of the alert message from Apple

Apple has sent iPhone hack warnings to the leader of India’s main opposition party, alongside other politicians opposing Narendra Modi’s government – placing Apple in a potentially delicate position.

A security researcher was also alerted, and shared a copy of the alert message he was sent, in which Apple advised enabling Lockdown Mode …

Expand Expanding Close

Indian iPhone plant found ‘highly hazardous’ to worker health in previously secret report

Indian iPhone plant dangers | Red light

An Indian iPhone plant run by Foxconn was temporarily closed down back in 2021 due to major health infractions in worker accommodation – including the presence of rats, food crawling with worms, and toilets without running water.

Now for the first time, we’re learning of the findings of a subsequent government inspection, which revealed many more safety infractions within the plant itself, some of which were described as “highly hazardous” to the health of workers …

Expand Expanding Close

Apple helps Made in India program hit 2B phones, 98% locally made units

Made in India program | Apple Saket store in New Delhi

A new report highlights the success of the Made in India initiative, with a massive 2 billion mobile phones made in the country since the program was introduced.

Apple has been a major contributor to that stat, going from making only the iPhone SE in the country through to making the latest flagship models today – and more to come …

Expand Expanding Close

Apple stopped MacBook imports to India, after sudden license announcement [U]

Mac and iPad imports | Apple Store in Mumbai

Update: Bloomberg today reports that both Apple and Samsung have responded to the sudden announcement by halting laptop imports into India. This is likely to be a temporary pause until a license is issued, but there’s no way to know how long this may take.

A new policy announced today means that Macs and iPad imports to India will require a license. The policy takes “immediate effect.”

The move appears to be part of the country’s Made in India strategy, which uses a carrot-and-stick approach to encourage brands to set up local manufacturing plants for their products …

Expand Expanding Close

iPhone worker bonuses raised three times in one month, as Foxconn preps for iPhone 15

iPhone worker bonuses raised for third time | Zhengzhou building

Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant – colloquially known as iPhone City – appears to be struggling to recruit and retain enough staff. The company is reported to have raised iPhone worker bonuses three times in one month as it preps for mass-production of the iPhone 15.

In particular, Foxconn is offering substantial incentives for remaining on the production line for at least three months, to see it through the busiest period, and avoid a repetition of last year’s major disruption …

Expand Expanding Close

iPhone maker Wistron calls it quits, saying Apple didn’t allow it to make a profit

iPhone maker Wistron quits | iPhone 14 Pro shown

iPhone maker Wistron – which was the first company to produce iPhones in India – has exited the business, saying that Apple’s tough negotiations on price meant the company was unable to make a profit.

The news comes at a time when the Cupertino company is moving more and more of its iPhone production from China to India …

Expand Expanding Close

iPad production in India likely to start soon, as Apple gets tax deal

iPad production in India | iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard shown

iPad production in India looks likely to start soon, after Apple largely succeeded in a bid for greater financial incentives from the government. The Cupertino company rejected a previous offer, stating that it wasn’t enough to cover the costs of setting up iPad assembly there.

While the government incentives are open to any manufacturer, they were designed with Apple as the key target …

Expand Expanding Close

New iPhone plants in India, as Apple shifts more production from China; AirPods, too

New iPhone plants in India

The Indian government has today announced that Foxconn has broken ground on $500M worth of new iPhone plants in Telangana, in the south of the country, as Apple continues its efforts to move more production out of China.

At least one of the plants is also expected to manufacture AirPods, after Apple offered Foxconn a new contract for these back in March …

Expand Expanding Close

Selling an older iPhone SE for $199 in emerging markets would be a smart move

Older iPhone SE | 2022 model shown

Apple CEO Tim Cook last week pointed to emerging markets like India as the solution to flattening growth rates in mature markets like the US and Europe. One way of kick-starting growth in new markets, suggests Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, would be for Apple to sell an older iPhone SE for the local equivalent of $199.

This would effectively be following in the footsteps of the $199 Apple Watch Series 3, which Apple retained on sale long beyond the point at which it made sense to buy one …

Expand Expanding Close

Apple Saket photos shared ahead of tomorrow’s opening

Apple Saket photos

A day ahead of the official opening, Apple Saket photos have been shared by the Cupertino company. This will be the second retail store in India, opening just two days after the spectacular Apple BKC.

CEO Tim Cook yesterday opened Apple BKC in Mumbai, and will likely do the same at Apple Saket in New Delhi. Sadly, this one looks far less impressive …

Expand Expanding Close

Tim Cook opens Apple BKC store, expresses delight at early Macintosh [U: Official photos]

Tim Cook opens Apple BKC

Photos and video clips have been shared of Tim Cook opening the Apple BKC store in Mumbai earlier today – including his surprised and delighted look when a customer turned up with an early Macintosh. Update: Apple’s official photos added to the end of the post.

Apple yesterday showed off the store in a set of photos, and it’s definitely high up there in the rankings of the most beautiful Apple Stores

Expand Expanding Close