Apple clocks record shipments for India-made iPhones, India sales at all-time high

 Apple clocks record shipments for India-made iPhones, India sales at all-time high:

In a shift from its heavy reliance on China, Apple has made substantial investments in India to diversify its production chain. Those investments have already started to reflect substantially in Apple’s annual numbers. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s report on Medium revealed that approximately 14% of the iPhone units shipped in 2023 were assembled in India, signifying the tech giant’s progress towards its goal of reducing dependency on China.

Kuo’s analysis outlined that 12 to 14% of global iPhone shipments in 2023 originated from India, with Foxconn accounting for about 80% of the production capacity in the country. Looking ahead, Kuo anticipates a substantial decrease in Foxconn’s production scale in China by 2024, estimating a reduction between 35 to 45% in Zhengzhou and a much more significant drop of 75 to 85% in Taiyuan. The relocation of production by Luxshare, another key Apple manufacturing partner, further contributes to this shift in iPhone production to India.

Apple’s exclusive reliance on Chinese production faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as several assembly plants were forced to suspend operations, causing a huge financial toll estimated at a billion dollars per week. Diplomatic tensions between the US and China also posed challenges for Apple’s supply chain.

In recent years, Apple has strategically diversified its manufacturing operations, investing in assembly plants in Brazil and Vietnam. However, the tech giant is increasingly eyeing India as a promising manufacturing hub with substantial potential to replace China in the long term on a global scale.

Apple has already shifted a significant $7 billion worth of iPhone production to India, with plans to further scale this figure up to $40 billion in the next five years. This year marked a significant milestone as Apple initiated the assembly of the new iPhone in India mere weeks after commencing production in China.

Kuo predicts a significant advancement by Apple, envisioning that by the end of 2024, the initial development of the iPhone 17, slated for a 2025 launch, will take place in India.

Kuo also noted that the company’s engagement with Tata in India, further strengthened by the acquisition of Wistron’s iPhone production lines, will secure its relationship with the Indian government, paving the way for enhanced future sales in India and setting the stage for Apple’s growth trajectory in the coming decade.

These strides in Apple’s production strategy come as the tech giant achieved record quarterly iPhone shipments in India, dispatching over 2.5 million units in the July-September period. The sales are attributed to the country’s evolving consumer landscape and an increasing inclination towards premium products, along with a surge in festive season sales. Apple’s commitment to its Indian production facilities reflects a broader shift in its global manufacturing strategy, signifying the company’s growing reliance on India’s manufacturing strength. Apple,apple music,Apple Music Voice Plan,apple siri,apple voice plan,siri voice plan

Remember Apple’s most affordable Apple Music subscription, which allowed you to access the service for only $5 per month through Siri? Well, it seems that Apple has decided to discontinue the Apple Music Voice Plan, two years after it was rolled out to let users access the Apple Music library via Siri across their devices. The Cupertino-headquartered tech giant revealed the same on its support page on the Apple Music Voice Plan, and it is no longer listed as an option on the Apple Music webpage.

“Beginning in November, Apple will discontinue the Apple Music Voice plan. We are focused on delivering the best, most robust music experience possible for our customers, with features like immersive Spatial Audio, Apple Music Sing with real-time lyrics, intuitive browse and discovery features, and so much more. All Apple Music plans already work seamlessly with Siri, and we will continue to optimize this experience,” read the support page.

While the discontinuation of the Voice Plan is a notable development, Apple Music continues to offer a range of subscription options, ensuring that users with different needs and preferences can enjoy music streaming on their own terms. Whether you are an individual listener, a student, or part of a family, Apple will continue to provide a variety of plans to accommodate your music streaming requirements. Moreover, all Apple Music plans offer the convenience of Siri voice control, ensuring that users can continue to enjoy a seamless listening experience.

With the ending of the Apple Music Voice Plan, the most budget-friendly choice now available is the student plan, which comes at $5.99 per month and includes Apple TV+ at no extra cost. Users can also select the $10.99 per month individual subscription or share the cost of a $17 family plan with their relatives. For a more comprehensive experience, Apple offers the Apple One bundle, which starts at $19.95 per month and grants access to multiple Apple services. The prices of the Student, Individual, and Family plans were hiked last year.

Apple has not explicitly detailed the reasons behind discontinuing the Voice Plan. However, it is likely that the limitations and the voice-only interaction of the plan contributed to this decision. Users may have found the Siri-only experience less versatile compared to traditional Apple Music plans that offer a broader range of features and control. Furthermore, while the Voice Plan provided an economical entry point into Apple Music, it came with a set of limitations. Users on this plan could not add songs to their library, create custom playlists, or use the service on non-Apple devices. Moreover, it did not support high-quality audio formats such as lossless or Dolby Atmos.

In case you were on a free trial of the Voice plan, Apple notes that you can continue on your plan for the duration of your first billing cycle once the free trial is over. For those who are currently subscribed to the Voice Plan, Apple is taking steps to ensure a smooth transition. The company has confirmed that existing subscribers can continue using the Voice Plan for the duration of their final billing cycle. However, once that cycle concludes, their access to the Voice Plan will be terminated – so there will be no auto-renewal of this plan. Apple intends to notify existing subscribers of these changes before the end of their final billing cycle.