Apple iPhone 15 series: Made-in-India iPhones to be sold right from day 1

Normally, whenever Apple launches a new iPhone, the first iPhones that are sold are the ones that are manufactured in China. India usually starts manufacturing iPhones of a particular series much later than China. That is why, India-made iPhones tend to reach the market after a couple of weeks.

This time around though, Apple had started the manufacturing of iPhone 15 series in its Foxconn’s Indian factories, much closer to its factories in China. As a result, for the first time ever, Apple will be selling iPhones made in India, from Day-1 itself. That means people will be sold both, iPhones made in China, and iPhones made in India, at the same time.

As per a Bloomberg report, Apple plans to offer the India-manufactured iPhone 15 for sale in the South Asian nation and select global markets on the first day of its global release, according to certain sources.

As stated earlir, this marks a departure from Apple’s prior approach of primarily distributing newly released devices, mostly produced in China, to eager customers worldwide. The insiders, who requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the matter, noted that while the majority of iPhone 15 units will still originate from China, this move signifies India’s growing manufacturing capabilities.

This development underscores India’s rapidly increasing prowess in production and signifies a notable shift in Apple’s sales strategy. The forthcoming iPhone 15 is anticipated to become available for purchase shortly after its official unveiling, scheduled for 10:00 AM, in California time, or 10:30 PM, IST, where it will unveil the iPhone 15, updated Apple Watches, and AirPods at a grand event held at its headquarters in the United States. Typically, new products go on sale approximately 10 days after their introduction.

Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, California, started the iPhone 15’s production at the Foxconn Technology Group’s factory in the southern state of Tamil Nadu last month.

Leading up to the iPhone 14, Apple only assembled a small portion of its global production in India, resulting in a delay of six to nine months compared to China’s production. However, this gap was significantly reduced last year, shrinking to just a matter of weeks. Apple has steadily increased the percentage of iPhones it manufactures in India, reaching 7 per cent by the end of March.

The financial incentives offered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote local manufacturing, coupled with Apple’s strategy to diversify beyond China amid the trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, have made India increasingly vital to Apple’s expansion efforts.

The iPhone 15 is expected to represent the most substantial upgrade to the device in three years, featuring enhancements to the camera system across the lineup and an improved 3-nanometer processor for the Pro models.

The success of this new lineup is crucial for revitalizing Apple’s sales, as the company reported its third consecutive quarter of declining sales in August, primarily due to sluggish consumer demand in key markets like the United States, China, and Europe.

Other Apple suppliers in India, like Pegatron Corp. and a Wistron Corp. factory which is soon set to be acquired by the Tata Group, are expected to commence iPhone 15 assembly. This expansion of manufacturing capabilities underscores Apple’s commitment to diversifying its production operations and further integrating India into its supply chain.