iPhone 16e Being Made In India: Apple

Tech giant Apple is assembling the newly launched iPhone 16e locally through its contract manufacturers in India for domestic users while exporting it to other countries.

“The entire iPhone 16 lineup, including iPhone 16e, is being assembled in India for Indian consumers and for export to select countries,” ET quoted Apple as saying.

It is pertinent to note that the Tim Cook-led company already assembles older variants of its flagship devices such as iPhone 15, iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 in India.

Launched on Wednesday (February 19), the iPhone 16e comes with an A18 chip, features Apple Intelligence, and has a single 48-megapixel rear camera.

Users can pre-order the device starting Friday (February 21). However, the availability of these smartphones will begin on February 28.

In India, the device will be priced at INR 59,900 for the 128GB base model. It will also be available in 256GB and 512GB variants, priced at INR 69,900 and INR 89,900, respectively.

The iPhone 16e, which comes as a refresh to the entry-level iPhone SE, boasts a 6.1-inch screen and will be available in black and white matte finishes. 

India has emerged as a key market for Apple over the last few years. The company posted record quarterly sales in India during the October-December quarter, with the iPhone becoming the top-selling smartphone model in the country during the period.

It opened two retail stores in Delhi and Mumbai in 2023 and is now planning to open four more retail stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai. 

Besides, India has also emerged as a key manufacturing destination for the iPhone maker as it looks to diversify its manufacturing facilities beyond China. The company surpassed INR 1 Lakh Cr mark in iPhone exports from India in 2024, with total shipments reaching a record $12.8 Bn (around INR 1.08 Lakh Cr). This was an increase of 42% from 2023. 

Apple’s iPhone assembly and manufacturing capacity in India has grown rapidly, and now it’s looking to build an ecosystem for its contract manufacturing stack. 

Earlier this week, it was reported that Japanese iPhone components manufacturer Murata Manufacturing is considering shifting some of its production capacity to India. Last month, Apple also kicked off discussions with auto components major Bharat Forge Ltd to make Kalyani Group one of its vendors in the country.

Further bolstering its manufacturing efforts, Apple recently set up a new subsidiary called Apple Operations India, aimed at research, design, testing and providing support to third-party manufacturers.