Apple Begins Early iPhone 17 Manufacturing in India

Since 2007, China has dominated iPhone manufacturing primarily due to its affordable labor and skilled workforce. However, in a bid to decrease reliance on China and safeguard its supply chain amid global uncertainties, Apple commenced production of iPhones in India with the release of the iPhone SE in 2017. While the majority of these Indian-manufactured iPhones cater to the local market, some units are expected to reach consumers in the Middle East and Africa.

Apple’s investment in India has expanded with the production of the Pro models of the iPhone 16 in the country. The company is also gearing up to manufacture the upcoming iPhone 17 in India, with preparations already underway.

According to a report from The Information, which cites insights from two insiders, one of Apple’s partners in India has initiated early production of the iPhone 17. This involves transitioning the prototype into a version ready for mass production through a process referred to as New Product Introduction (NPI).

The NPI efforts for the iPhone 17 are reportedly unfolding at the Foxconn facility in Bangalore, where the company has invested approximately $700 million for infrastructure development. Currently, the project is in the proto-1 phase, focusing on creating thousands of units to evaluate build quality, along with testing materials and manufacturing methods.

It is yet unclear whether the Pro versions of the iPhone 17 will also undergo the NPI process in India. Data gathered from the NPI of the standard iPhone 17 is expected to be shared with Apple’s production facilities in China to ensure a synchronized manufacturing approach.

Speculations regarding the features of the iPhone 17 series have intensified in recent weeks. Some reports suggest that the Pro models might introduce 12GB of RAM or a more compact Dynamic Island. Additionally, Apple’s head of engineering, John Ternus, has sparked interest by labeling the iPhone 17 series as the “most ambitious launch in the history of the product.”

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