Apple has begun early manufacturing work for next year’s base iPhone model, which rumours suggest will be called the iPhone 17. And where is this manufacturing taking place? It’s happening right here in India, a first for Apple, which has for all these years conducted the early phases of development in China.
iPhone 17 development taking place at Foxconn’s Bengaluru factory
The development work is taking place at a Foxconn facility in Bengaluru, The Information reported, citing two people with direct knowledge of the situation. This is the first time Apple is conducting this crucial phase of iPhone development outside of China, tell the people familiar with the matter .
The early manufacturing process, known internally as New Product Introduction (NPI), involves converting prototype designs into mass-producible devices. This process typically occurs between October and May and includes testing different materials, equipment, and manufacturing processes.
Pro models stay in China
While the base model of the iPhone 17, codenamed V57, is being developed in India, the development of the more premium iPhone 17 Pro models and the rumoured ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air will remain in China, where Apple has historically concentrated its manufacturing expertise.
According to the report, the base iPhone 17 has already passed an early production milestone called “proto-1,” where thousands of units are manufactured to test build quality. Engineers from both Apple and Foxconn, including Indian personnel, are involved in the testing process.
The successful completion of this development phase could lead to the manufacturing process being replicated at other factories, including those in China.
Apple’s growing presence in India
Apple has been gradually expanding its manufacturing presence in India. The iPhone-maker started making its phones in India back in 2017, initially only manufacturing the iPhone SE at the time. Cut to 2024, Apple is manufacturing all four models of its latest iPhone 16 lineup, including the premium Pro models.
Bloomberg reports that Apple exported around $6 billion worth of made-in-India iPhones this year, up 30 per cent from last year.
Manufacturing efforts aside, Apple has also been expanding its retail footprint in India. Last year, it opened two stores in the country, one in Mumbai and another in Delhi. Now, Apple is planning to open four more stores in the country and has already begun hiring staff for them.