Next year, Apple will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone with a major redesign. Amid the company's major plans for the device, hefty tariffs are forcing Apple to shift iPhone production from China to other countries, including India. While moving production to India will save the cost of manufacturing, the 20th anniversary iPhone 18 lineup will have an 'extraordinarily complex' design, which would make the transition highly unlikely.
Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone will feature a bold redesign that pushes innovation and pricing to new heights
China has been producing iPhones for Apple for years and has the required skills and expertise to experiment with complex designs. India, on the flip side, has just started manufacturing iPhones. Mark Gurman claims in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple will stick to China to manufacture its 20th anniversary iPhone next year due to the complexities involved in the design.
Apple will introduce two premium iPhone models next year, one of which will be the iPhone Fold and the other will be a "bold" new iPhone Pro model that will make greater use of glass. The report also claims that the new models will have an "extraordinarily complex" design that will involve new parts and production techniques. To bolster the upcoming design, China's production facilities, infrastructure, and experience required for the advanced engineering challenges meet the cut for the complexities involved in the process.
Apple is in the process of diversifying its manufacturing footprint amid tariff concerns, and while the company has received leverage for now, the Trump administration could impose hefty import taxes in the coming months. It also remains to be seen if Apple will increase the price of its current iPhone 16 lineup or wait until the iPhone 17 is announced.
The iPhone X received a major redesign on its 10th anniversary in 2017, and the company saw fit to increase the price of the device. If next year's iPhone also undergoes a major redesign, we can expect the price to increase. Cumulatively, the iPhone Fold and the "bold" iPhone Pro could be more expensive than previously anticipated. The complex design of the device would also increase the price of the iPhone next year, which the company still needs to offset.
With limited expertise and manufacturing hubs in India and elsewhere, Apple will stick to China for the production of its 20th anniversary iPhone next year. We will keep you posted on the latest design details, so be sure to stick around.
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