Notes from Planet iPhone

Report: “Make in India” Makes Newer iPhones More Attractive

28 APRIL 2022 - Whether to take some of the strain off of China or just to make sales easier elsewhere, two stories today of iPhones made in other places. India’s Business Standard starts us off, with news of Apple shipping one-million “Make in India” iPhones last quarter - a number the site calls “a massive jump of 50 per cent in iPhone shipments from within the country,” versus the same quarter a year earlier. That is according to data from CyberMedia Research (CMR). 

Prabhu Ram, head of Industry Intelligence at CMR, says making newer iPhones in India is making those phones more appealing. Imported iPhones face huge tariffs, driving up each phone’s price. iPhone’s made and sold in the country avoid that tariff, and apparently get picked up by consumers. According to CMR’s Ram:

With its enduring brand appeal, Apple continues to attract premium buyers. This is a break from the past when older-generation iPhone models gained consumer favour through aggressive and attractive price offers…

“As Apple further diversifies its manufacturing base,” says the analyst, “the newer generation iPhone models will fuel Apple's India growth story.”

Report: Apple Making iPhone 13 in Brazil

On the other side of the globe, it looks like Apple’s making more iPhones in Brazil. Well… Foxconn is, on Apple’s behalf. 9 to 5 Mac says the contract manufacturer “has started assembling the iPhone 13 in Brazil…” That is the Goldilocks iPhone 13 - no minis in the mix and no Pros either.

Not unlike India, 9 to 5 Mac says:

Brazil imposes high taxes on imported products, which includes almost the entire range of Apple devices. For that reason, there are some companies that invest in the local assembly process, as this grants a reduction in taxes to sell those products.