Apple has started early talks to explore iPhone chip assembly and packaging in India for the first time, signaling a deeper role for the country in its supply chain.
The move could help Apple reduce its dependence on a few regions and build a more balanced and resilient global supply network.
India is emerging as a key part of Apple’s long-term plans, with strong growth in iPhone manufacturing and rising confidence in local capabilities.
Apple has reportedly begun early discussions with its suppliers in India to handle a key part of its iPhone chip work for the first time. This move is being seen as Apple’s next major step following its shift of iPhone manufacturing from China to India. According to a recent report by The Economic Times, Apple is considering doing more of its assembly and packaging work in India. While there is no official confirmation yet, these talks suggest that Apple now sees India as more than just a basic manufacturing location.
SurveyApple currently gets its iPhone display panels from companies like Samsung Display, LG Display, and BOE. The chips used in these displays come from firms such as Samsung, Novatek, Himax, and LX Semicon. Right now, the complex work of making and finishing these chips is done only in South Korea, Taiwan, and China.
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If chip assembly and packaging do make their way to India, even in a limited form, it would be a big change. It could help Apple depend less on one region and build a stronger, more spread-out supply chain. Moreover, it would also signal Apple’s growing confidence in India not just as a place to build iPhones, but as a country capable of supporting more advanced, value-added parts of the supply chain.
As per the report, the conversations involve CG Semi, a semiconductor company setting up one of India’s first large-scale chip assembly and testing units in Sanand, Gujarat. It also clearly stated that the conversation is exploratory and nothing is finalised, including the type of chips, which might be handled at the Indian facility. While the display-related chips are seen as the most likely starting point due to their critical role in iPhone functionality.
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Over the past few years, India has moved from being a secondary manufacturing option to a central pillar of Apple’s diversification plan. Apple has reportedly assembled iPhones worth around $22 billion in India in the past year. This is a significant jump when compared to a year before. These devices rolled out from the facilities run by Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron. Furthermore, these numbers can also be viewed as how deeply Apple is already embedded in the Indian local manufacturing ecosystem.
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Bhaskar Sharma
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers. View Full Profile
