Apple wants to see if iPhone 17 can be manufactured from scratch in India: Report

This article was first published on the Benzinga India portal.

tech giants apple The company has reportedly started early manufacturing work on next year’s entry-level iPhone model. iPhone17. This early-stage development will take place in India for the first time and marks a break from Apple’s traditional dependence on China.

what happened: The development process for iPhone 17 is currently underway. foxconn’s facility in Bengaluru, according to sources cited by the Information.

Apple had never previously undertaken this critical stage of iPhone development, known internally as new product introduction (NPI), outside of China. The NPI process runs from October to May and involves transitioning prototype designs to production-ready devices and testing various materials, equipment, and manufacturing techniques.

The basic model of the iPhone 17, reportedly codenamed V57, is being developed in India, but Apple is reportedly continuing to develop a more advanced model. iPhone17 pro Model and ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air China continues to have a strong concentration of established manufacturing expertise.

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A solid start: The base iPhone 17 has reportedly successfully reached a preliminary production milestone known as “Proto 1,” which includes manufacturing several thousand units to evaluate build quality. Apple is evaluating whether engineers based in India can create prototypes that meet quality standards for prototypes manufactured at its California headquarters.

Apple is reportedly aiming to start development of new iPhones sooner at locations closer to final assembly sites, which could lead to lower operating costs for the company. The magazine reports that Apple and Foxconn engineers, including Indians, are actively participating in the testing phase.

If the initial development stages are successful, this manufacturing model could be expanded to additional facilities, including facilities in China.

Apple has been steadily expanding its production capacity in India since 2017, seeking to reduce its dependence on China, which is at increased risk due to escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington, DC. India currently manufactures all four of Apple’s latest models. iPhone16 Lineup including premium Pro version.

The US technology giant exports about $6 billion worth of iPhones made in India, a 30% increase from a year ago.

Beyond manufacturing, Apple is also looking to hire 400 new employees for upcoming stores in Bangalore, Pune, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. Last year, the company opened two flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi.

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