Apple may have revealed where it will test production of its foldable smartphone

The company is looking for ways to bypass geopolitical circumstances that could impact the production of the iPhone foldable.

Apple has been considering building a testing production line for its foldable iPhone in Taiwan and mass-producing it in India.

The company intends to achieve a 10% increase in total smartphone shipments in 2026, and the new foldable smartphone, which may be released next year, could help make this happen.

These changes would also help Apple move its product development from China, amid ongoing debate about tariffs the US wants to impose on goods imported from there.

Apple is considering creating a small pilot line to determine what equipment and manufacturing scale are needed to make the company’s first foldable, reports Nikkei Asia.

When this process is complete, Apple would repeat the same tactics in India for the mass production of smartphones. Such a shift in development would help the company avoid potential mistakes and secure a smoother production of foldables in India.

However, even with the shift to Taiwan, the company could face some obstacles, such as limited land and labor resources, even for an experimental production setup.

It’s been reported that the company expects the foldable launch to spur sales of its previously released smartphones, so the production process should go as smoothly as possible.

Apple’s goal is to produce around 95 million smartphones in the lineup for 2026, making it the highest in years, with a 10% growth from 2025.

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The company’s new production strategy is designed to lessen the risks arising from strained relationships between the US and China, and China and India.

While Apple is trying to enhance India’s manufacturing and technological capabilities, some of its suppliers encounter frequent difficulties when importing production equipment or bringing engineers and technicians from China.

India has also become involved in a tariff war with the US while maintaining a tense relationship with China.

Nevertheless, it became an important production point for Apple, while also depending on the company’s investments to become a better tech manufacturer.

While Apple enthusiasts are still waiting for the iPhone foldable, the company has already released its latest iPhone 17 series during Apple’s annual product launch.

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