Apple to Shift iPhone Production to India in 2026, Foldable Models in China

Apple is reportedly planning to ramp up its production capacity in India, with the aim of shipping all Made-in-India iPhones to the US to avoid the higher tariffs imposed by…

By Hardik Dhamija

April 29, 2025

2 min read

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Apple is reportedly planning to ramp up its production capacity in India, with the aim of shipping all Made-in-India iPhones to the US to avoid the higher tariffs imposed by the US government on Chinese imports. The US is charging up to a 145% duty on Chinese imports and 26% on those coming from India.

Apple to Manufacture iPhones in India for US, But Foldable and 20th Anniversary Models Stay in China

While there’s this shift in assembling more US-bound iPhones in India, new information suggests that Apple will still manufacture its first foldable iPhone and the 20th anniversary edition iPhone in China. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple isn’t going to manufacture its first foldable iPhone and 20th anniversary edition iPhone in India, even though it is scheduled to launch the devices in 2027.

Apple has typically never made big design moves outside of China, and that is likely to be the case for these two new models, he noted. Additionally, Gurman doesn’t foresee Apple manufacturing all US-bound iPhones in India by 2027.

Reports also suggest that Apple is planning to produce 60 million iPhones for the US market in India by the end of 2026. The company is in discussions with Indian authorities about this shift, but the final decision will depend on ongoing trade talks with both China and the US.

Apple’s foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. It may include a metallic glass hinge, a book-style design, and a side-mounted Touch ID button. The dual rear camera setup and a front camera for both folded and unfolded states are also anticipated.

The foldable iPhone could be priced between $2,000 (approximately ₹1.7 lakh) and $2,500 (approximately ₹2.13 lakh), with mass production set to begin in late 2026. As for the 20th anniversary edition iPhone, reports suggest it will have a ‘glass-centric’ design and be sold at a premium price, though details are still scarce.