India

Two reports published by India’s competition regulator contained confidential Apple data, according to a complaint by the company.

The antitrust body has now asked recipients to return the reports so that the sensitive data can be redacted in new versions …

Apple has cut iPhone prices in India, following a recent decision by the government to reduce import taxes on smartphones.

The price cuts include the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, the first time Apple has ever reduced the prices of current premium models in the country …

iPhone imports into India are to get cheaper, thanks to a reduction in import taxes announced by the government. The change is expected to save Apple around $35M to $50M a year.

While India has become Apple’s second-biggest manufacturing hub after China, the company still imports a significant number of iPhones into the country …

Apple’s plan to make iPads in India were put on hold after failed negotiations with the government over tax breaks, but the company is now reportedly making a fresh attempt.

It’s now more than a year after we’d expected iPad production in India to begin, and both sides will be hoping for a better outcome this time …

It looks like the next Apple antitrust battle will take place in India, as the country prepares its own competition law, which is closely modelled on Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). We learned last week that Japan is also close to implementing its own version of the DMA.

It’s the DMA which has required Apple to permit third-party App Stores, as well as give iPhone users a proactive choice of web browser …

Apple plans to boost its iPhone production in India, increasing from below 15% to 25% by 2028. This target underscores Apple’s commitment to building a robust network of local suppliers and reducing its reliance on Chinese suppliers. It’s also a reality check on inflated projections made in recent reports.

A new report says that one in seven iPhones are now made in India – pointing to a significant acceleration in Apple’s work to reduce its dependence on China.

Apple’s reliance on China as its key manufacturing hub has been placing the company in an increasingly vulnerable position …

We’re today learning of a major acceleration in plans to shift more production of Apple devices from China to India. In less than one year, Foxconn has increased its planned investment in an Indian plant by almost 400%.

It follows a recent report that Apple has told its battery suppliers that it would like as many iPhone 16 batteries as possible to be manufactured in India …

As part of the company’s continuing work to reduce its dependence on China, Apple has reportedly told suppliers that it has a preference for iPhone 16 batteries being made in India.

One battery supplier which already manufactures in India has been asked to scale-up production there, and Chinese suppliers have been urged to establish battery factories in the country …

India is planning to copy the European Union’s USB-C charging port law, requiring all smartphones to adopt the standard, which poses three big problems for Apple – and not just in India.

A new report today says that Apple is lobbying either for an exemption for older models still manufactured in the country, or delayed enforcement of the proposed legislation …

Apple launched the iPhone 15 in September, but the company continues to sell previous-generation models such as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 – which are still very appealing in some countries. In India, Apple has now given customers 50% off AirPods when buying earbuds with a new iPhone 14.

Apple has invested a lot of money in assembling some of its products in India to reduce its reliance on China. Although it still has a long way to go, a report today by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that nearly 14% of iPhone units shipped in 2023 were assembled in India, showing that Apple is progressing towards its goals.

Apple has sent iPhone hack warnings to the leader of India’s main opposition party, alongside other politicians opposing Narendra Modi’s government – placing Apple in a potentially delicate position.

A security researcher was also alerted, and shared a copy of the alert message he was sent, in which Apple advised enabling Lockdown Mode …

An Indian iPhone plant run by Foxconn was temporarily closed down back in 2021 due to major health infractions in worker accommodation – including the presence of rats, food crawling with worms, and toilets without running water.

Now for the first time, we’re learning of the findings of a subsequent government inspection, which revealed many more safety infractions within the plant itself, some of which were described as “highly hazardous” to the health of workers …

Apple has now moved a total of $7B worth of iPhone production out of China and into India, according to an unnamed government official cited in a new report.

The same official says that Apple plans to hit $40B within the next five years, as the company accelerates plans to reduce its dependence on China …

We’re just a few weeks away from the launch of this year’s iPhone lineup, and a new report says that iPhone 15 production is underway in India, as well as China.

However, one big question remains: Will Apple succeed in simultaneously shipping launch iPhones from both countries?

A new report highlights the success of the Made in India initiative, with a massive 2 billion mobile phones made in the country since the program was introduced.

Apple has been a major contributor to that stat, going from making only the iPhone SE in the country through to making the latest flagship models today – and more to come …

Update: Bloomberg today reports that both Apple and Samsung have responded to the sudden announcement by halting laptop imports into India. This is likely to be a temporary pause until a license is issued, but there’s no way to know how long this may take.

A new policy announced today means that Macs and iPad imports to India will require a license. The policy takes “immediate effect.”

The move appears to be part of the country’s Made in India strategy, which uses a carrot-and-stick approach to encourage brands to set up local manufacturing plants for their products …

Apple has its eyes on India as the next major market to dominate. The nation is also a big part of Apple’s plans to diversify product manufacturing outside of China. Foxconn, Apple’s iPhone manufacturing partner, just dropped out of a $19.5 billion chip deal in India, however.

Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant – colloquially known as iPhone City – appears to be struggling to recruit and retain enough staff. The company is reported to have raised iPhone worker bonuses three times in one month as it preps for mass-production of the iPhone 15.

In particular, Foxconn is offering substantial incentives for remaining on the production line for at least three months, to see it through the busiest period, and avoid a repetition of last year’s major disruption …

iPhone maker Wistron – which was the first company to produce iPhones in India – has exited the business, saying that Apple’s tough negotiations on price meant the company was unable to make a profit.

The news comes at a time when the Cupertino company is moving more and more of its iPhone production from China to India …