China has been the main producer of iPhones since 2007, thanks to cheap labor and skilled workers. However, Apple started producing iPhones in India starting with the 2017 iPhone SE to reduce its dependence on China and protect its supply chain from geopolitical tensions. Indian-made iPhones are mainly sold domestically, but some of the stock may also be distributed to markets in the Middle East and Africa.
Apple’s expansion into India continues with the Pro version of the iPhone 16 being produced in the country. As it turns out, Apple plans to produce next year’s iPhone 17 in India and has already started laying the groundwork.
One of Apple’s partners in India is planning initial production of the iPhone 17, starting with converting a prototype into a production-ready device, The Information reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. It is said that it has started. Technically speaking, this process is called new product introduction (NPI).
The NPI process for the iPhone 17 is being done at the Foxconn factory in Bangalore, with the company reportedly spending nearly $700 million to build the facility. Additionally, the process is said to be in the so-called Proto 1 phase, which involves manufacturing thousands of devices to test build quality. Materials and manufacturing processes are also tested at this stage.
It remains to be seen whether the NPI process for the Pro version of iPhone 17 will also take place in India. NPI data captured for the standard iPhone 17 will also be shared with Apple factories in China for a unified manufacturing process.
Rumors and speculation regarding the iPhone 17 lineup have been increasing in recent weeks. Some sources claim that the Pro version could come with 12GB of RAM or a smaller Dynamic Island. However, Apple’s head of engineering, John Ternas, recently piqued everyone’s curiosity by describing the iPhone 17 series as “the most ambitious product in history.”
