iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max Assembly Begins in India with Significant Price Cuts

Apple’s fiscal year commences in October, and as it starts FY 2025, the company has plans related to manufacturing and retail in India. For the first time, the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the premium Pro models, is being produced by Apple’s contract manufacturers in India. In addition to Apple’s new office space, the company will be opening new retail locations in India in the months ahead.

iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max Assembly Begins

“Apple is now manufacturing the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, in India,” an Apple spokesperson told HT. Previously, only standard models like the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, as well as earlier models, were made here. Apple began manufacturing in India in 2017 and has steadily increased production volumes.

The localized iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models are due in stores soon, with some exports to contracting markets on the cards. Taiwanese companies Foxconn and Pegatron are already in India as the manufacturing partners for Apple, besides Tata-owned Wistron, making Tata Group — the only partner for Apple limited to Indian operations.

The move also aligns with India’s desire to emerge as a hub for smartphone manufacturing. As per the Economic Survey 2023-24, India hosted 14% of the total globally assembled iPhones by Apple in FY24. Foxconn also invested in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to establish new component manufacturing plants.

In the past five years, multinational companies such as Apple have diversified their manufacturing operations partly in response to trade tensions between the United States and China and disruptions to supply chains caused by last year’s pandemic. India rose from 23rd to the rank of sixth in exports by 2022 thanks to India’s “Make in India” movement and PLI scheme which was introduced last year. In FY24, over 31% of smartphones made in India were exported.

In a surprise move, Apple lowered the prices of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max compared to their iPhone 15 counterparts, defying the usual generational price increase. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at ₹1,19,900, down from ₹1,34,900 for the iPhone 15 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at ₹1,44,900, compared to ₹1,59,900 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

This price reduction has prompted competitors like Samsung to adjust prices and offer bundled promotions for their Galaxy S series. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus retain the same price points as the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, starting at ₹79,900 and ₹89,900, respectively, despite significant hardware upgrades, including the A18 chip, enhanced photography features, and iOS with Apple Intelligence.

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