Apple to start manufacturing early iPhone 17 in India, shift key production phase away from China

Apple is taking a significant step by shifting the initial manufacturing of its next iPhone – the iPhone 17 – to India. Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently confirmed the move, reporting that the tech giant is conducting “New Production Introduction” (NPI) work for the upcoming iPhone 17 in India instead of China, where it will be initially launched. There is work. The production phase has been generally handled in the past.

So, what does “new production introduction” mean? This is the stage where Apple takes a prototype design and turns it into a blueprint suitable for mass production. This stage is essential to Apple’s final product, as it fine-tunes manufacturing processes, materials, and designs. Historically, Apple has done all this groundwork in China, largely because of its strong supply chain structure there. However, this time, the NPI work for the standard iPhone 17 model is taking place in India. Notably, this change does not apply to the high-end iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, or the rumored iPhone 17 Slim models, which may still be processed in China.

The change is part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify its supply chain beyond China. For years, China has been Apple’s primary manufacturing hub, but the company is looking to reduce its reliance on one country. The decision to expand production in India is part of Apple’s vision to make its supply chain more flexible and adaptable to global changes. Reports indicate that Apple is planning to shift about 25 percent of its iPhone manufacturing capacity to India in the near future. This not only includes the production of the standard iPhone models, but also the assembly of the iPhone 16 Pro models in India for the first time this year.

India has already been a successful manufacturing base for Apple. More recently, Bloomberg reported that Apple has exported nearly $6 billion worth of iPhones made in India in the last six months alone, indicating that the company’s investments in the country are yielding positive results.

The iPhone 16 series is still fresh on the market, but Apple’s early NPI efforts for the iPhone 17 reflect the extensive preparation required to launch a new device globally. Apple’s proactive approach, starting nearly a year in advance, highlights the scale of the task — producing millions of iPhones requires careful planning from initial design to final assembly.

While details of the iPhone 17 remain secret, leaked information suggests that Apple’s diversification efforts could bring more design and production changes in the coming years.