Apple has reportedly initiated early-stage development of the iPhone 17 at Foxconn’s manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, India. This marks a significant “milestone” as Apple conducts such work outside of China for the first time, aligning with the company’s efforts to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependency on Asia.
According to The Information, Apple is working with Foxconn in India to develop the base model of the iPhone 17, focusing on an early-stage manufacturing process known internally as New Product Introduction (NPI). This phase involves converting prototype designs into mass-producible devices and typically spans from October to May, encompassing the testing of materials, equipment, and manufacturing processes.
While development of the standard iPhone 17 model will occur in India, Apple will continue to handle the development of the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro models and the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air in China, where Apple has historically maintained its expertise in manufacturing.
The report also notes that the base iPhone 17 has already achieved an early production milestone, known as “proto-1,” where thousands of units are produced to evaluate build quality. Engineers from both Apple and Foxconn, including local Indian personnel, are involved in this testing phase. If this phase succeeds, the process could be replicated at other facilities, including those in China.
The iPhone 17 is expected to offer a modest upgrade over the iPhone 16, with rumored features including a new A19 chip, aluminum casing, an enhanced 24-megapixel front camera, two rear cameras (a 48-megapixel Fusion and a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide), and ProMotion displays.
