Apple iPhone 14 to be made in India two months after China-made ones are released: report

Published On: August 23, 2022

Highlights

Apple plans to make iPhone 14 in India two months after its debut.
The first batch of iPhone 14 from India will likely come out by November.
Apple seeks alternatives to China to manufacture its new iPhones.

Earlier this month, we heard about Apple’s plan to start simultaneous iPhone 14 production in India and China. This is because China blocked shipments of Apple’s chipmaker TSMC and Taiwanese assembler Pegatron. Now, a Bloomberg report adds that Apple plans to make iPhone 14 in India two months after the Chinese-made ones are released, closing the tech gap between the two countries.

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The report adds that Apple is seeking alternatives to China to manufacture its new iPhones, citing China’s clashes with the US government and imposes lockdowns across the country that have disrupted economic activity. Further, the first batch of iPhone 14 from India will likely come out by late October or November. However, a challenging target that the company could aim for would be the Diwali festival starting October 24th.

Foxconn Technology Group – the primary manufacturer of iPhones – studied the shipping process of the components from China to India’s Chennai plant. A simultaneous iPhone 14 production between the two countries might not be possible yet, as a big challenge that the company could face with manufacturing iPhones in India is secrecy, says the report. Apple goes to extreme lengths to keep its iPhone details under the wrap, and replicating the same level of privacy of its China facilities in another country might be difficult, it added.

Lastly, the report suggests another possible risk for product secrecy Apple should be concerned about: Indian customs officers, who typically inspect shipments to verify that imported materials match their declarations. The plan for a simultaneous start in India and China isn’t realistic for this year’s iPhone to make a new iPhone, although it remains a long-term goal.