With a month left to go until the iPhone 16's launch, Apple is probably busy with launch preparations. The company has allegedly started printing box labels for its upcoming phones, per a new leak.
Tipster OvO has posted an image of what looks like the iPhone 16 Pro's retail box label on the Chinese social networking website Weibo. The label appears to confirm that Pro models will be manufactured in India in a first for Apple.
OvO has a limited track record, so treat this leak with a bit of skepticism.
In a bid to reduce its reliance on China, Apple has steadily been diverting production to India, though the bulk of iPhones are still assembled in China.
Previously, only the standard models were produced in India, with Apple making a public display of confidence in India's ability to manufacture new models last year by selling India-made standard iPhone 15 variants on launch day for the first time.
Apple will start producing the Pro models in India this year with the help partners Foxconn, Pegatron India, and the Tata Group. The made-in-India iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will reportedly not be available at launch though and aren't expected to hit the shelves until after a few weeks of the global launch, which should take place sometime in September.
Like last year, the iPhone 16 models produced in the country will go on sale at the same time as models made elsewhere.
Apple has been trying to reduce its reliance on China and financial incentives offered by the Indian government are certainly helping. In the fiscal year ended March 2024, 14 percent of iPhones were made in India.
Since the demand for the Pro models is modest in India due to their high prices, the majority of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max variants assembled in the country will be exported to the US, the Middle East, and Europe.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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