US tariffs against China that could raise prices of iPhones significantly are prompting Apple to shift manufacturing to India, which has lower tariffs. But how much of that manufacturing will shift and how soon it will happen could be complicated by special iPhone editions expected for release in 2027, a report suggests.
According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Apple has plans for two special editions to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. One could be a foldable iPhone that has been rumored and another would be a Pro model that would include more glass elements.
Gurman says that the chances are “slim” that Apple would build those new devices in India. He said: “While Apple’s manufacturing in India has reached parity with China in terms of current iPhone quality, the 20-year anniversary models are extraordinarily complex. They’ll require new parts and production techniques, making it far from a certainty that Apple will be able to build those outside of China. At some point, yes, but certainly not by the year 2027.”
A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.