If you live in the United States, you could soon be holding an iPhone made entirely in India. By the end of 2026, Apple plans for all iPhones sold in the US to be manufactured in India. This move comes as Apple speeds up efforts to reduce its reliance on China for production, mainly because of the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.
The Financial Times shared that Apple is trying to avoid the high tariffs placed on Chinese goods during Donald Trump’s presidency. These tariffs have made it much more costly to produce iPhones in China for the US market. To dodge these extra costs, Apple now wants all iPhones bound for the US to be assembled in India by the end of next year.
Last year, Bloomberg reported that Apple already makes about one in seven iPhones in India. However, to meet this new goal, Apple will double its production capacity in the country. This is a huge step for the company as it looks to create a stronger and more stable supply chain outside of China.
Production in India has been growing steadily
You might be surprised that Apple’s shift to India is not new. The company started moving some iPhone production out of China in 2020. By 2023, Apple had already passed the impressive milestone of producing over US$7 billion iPhones in India.
An Indian government official mentioned that Apple’s next goal is to boost production even further—aiming for more than US$40 billion by 2028. This is a clear sign that India is becoming a key player in Apple’s global operations.
After the iPhone 16 Pro launch in September 2024, Apple began assembling its top-tier models in India for the first time. If you are looking forward to the iPhone 17, there’s more news—early manufacturing work for this next model is believed to have already started in Indian factories.
Apple’s careful strategy for an uncertain future
Although Apple managed to get a temporary exemption from many tariffs on Chinese goods, you should know that these waivers are not permanent. The Trump administration made it clear that these measures could change over time.
Because of this uncertainty, Apple is taking no chances. By building its supply chain in India, the company hopes to protect itself from sudden changes in trade policy that could make doing business much more expensive.
If you are an iPhone user in the US, Apple might not just design the next device you purchase in California — skilled workers in India might also build it. This major move could reshape Apple’s manufacturing plans for years to come.
