Apple significantly expanded iPhone production in India in 2025, increasing output by about 53% as the company seeks to reduce its dependence on China and mitigate tariff risks. Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, said Apple assembled about 55 million iPhones in India last year, up from 36 million in 2024. Apple produces about 220 million to 230 million iPhones annually worldwide, with India now accounting for roughly a quarter of total output.

The global smartphone market is shifting from volume expansion to value-driven competition. Although rising costs have slowed shipment growth, optical specifications remain the main arena where flagship models differentiate themselves.

While thousands of tech executives gathered this week in the cavernous halls of Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress (MWC), showcasing motorized cameras and ultra-thin folding screens that few will ever buy, Apple executed a far more consequential maneuver from the quiet of its California headquarters.