Following the commencement of iPhone 15 production in India, Apple is set to manufacture the higher-tier model of the series, iPhone 15 Plus, within the next quarter.
This production will take place at the Foxconn facility near Chennai.
iPhone 15 Plus To be Manufactured in India
According to reports, citing two industry insiders familiar with the matter, the Foxconn plant is currently making preparations for the production of the iPhone 15 Plus. It is noted that the company will initially import the iPhone Plus model until local production is established.
It is worth mentioning that Apple has no plans to manufacture the iPhone Pro series in India, as stated in the report.
Apple has already commenced the assembly of the iPhone 15 at the Foxconn plant, allowing the tech giant to offer an iPhone manufactured in India right from its launch.
Previously, iPhones in India were imported during the initial months after their launch before transitioning to local production. However, this year marks a change, with the production of iPhone 15 starting from day one.
On September 12, Apple introduced the iPhone 15 series, featuring slight improvements in camera resolution, a faster chip, and higher peak brightness, among other updates. Notably, the Pro models come with a lighter titanium body.
Will This Impact The Cost of The iPhone
Apple initiated iPhone assembly in India in 2017 with the budget-friendly iPhone SE, produced at Wistron’s facility in Karnataka. Currently, there are three contract manufacturers for iPhones in India—Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron—producing iPhone 13, 14, and 14 Plus models in the country.
As for the impact on prices, despite the assembly of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus in India, industry experts believe that the prices may not experience significant reductions. This is because Apple’s manufacturers (Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron) incur substantial import duties for importing components.
These duties include a basic customs duty of 20 percent, a 2.5 percent surcharge, and an additional 18 percent GST on iPhones. The final price also incorporates distribution costs and retailer margins.
The launch prices for the iPhone 15 series in India are as follows: Rs 79,900 for the iPhone 15, Rs 89,900 for the iPhone 15 Plus, and Rs 1,34,900 for the iPhone 15 Pro base variant with 128 GB storage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max with 256 GB storage has been priced at Rs 1,59,900.
