All iPhones for the US may be made in India by 2027

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Apple has been making iPhones in India for a few years now, but a new report says the company plans to dramatically increase production there. 

In fact, by the end of 2026, Apple might try to import nearly every iPhone 18 sold in the US from India. While that sounds ambitious, there are several reasons to be skeptical.

The report about Apple’s big plans comes from the Financial Times and is based on unnamed sources. (Via: Apple Insider) 

Without clear evidence, it’s hard to know how reliable the information is.

Right now, India produces about 40 million iPhones each year. That’s less than 20% of Apple’s global iPhone output. 

Apple had previously aimed to make 25% of its iPhones in India by the end of 2024, but only reached around 15%. 

They are hoping to grow by another 10% in 2025, but even that might not be enough to meet the new goal.

For Apple to actually pull this off, production in India would need to grow by about 25 million more iPhones each year. That’s assuming everything goes smoothly.

There are several major challenges. First, China, where most iPhones are currently made, isn’t exactly happy about production moving elsewhere. 

Chinese authorities have even made it harder for Apple to move manufacturing equipment to India, sometimes delaying shipments with no explanation. 

Also, many of the machines sent over had system instructions in Chinese, making them hard for Indian workers to use.

Moreover, in China, workers do two 12-hour shifts, but India’s laws require three 8-hour shifts. 

This means Apple needs more workers in India than in China, which creates hiring and management challenges. 

Although Apple lobbied for 12-hour shifts in India, worker protests have prevented that change so far.

Additionally, setting up high-quality parts manufacturing in India has been tricky. Suppliers have struggled to meet Apple’s strict standards.

Do you think this is a smart move from Apple? Or do you see any disadvantages? We want to hear your thoughts below in the comments, or via our Twitter or Facebook.