Apple's first 'Assembled in India' iPhone SE models go on sale in limited run

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in iPhone
The first iPhone SE models built in India -- by Apple partner Wistron -- are now on sale in various cities around the country such as Bengaluru, according to local reports.




The devices are marked "Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in India," the Indian Express noted on Monday. In May, a spokesperson told the publication that Apple would initially produce just a "small number" of locally-made iPhones.

Prices appear to be unchanged so far, with the standard 32 gigabyte model selling for about $342 from vendors like Flipkart, maintaining an existing discount from $422. In the U.S., the same phone costs $399.

It's expected that local manufacturing will eventually help bring down the cost of iPhones in India, letting Apple expand its toehold. The company controls just 3 percent of the country's smartphone market, mostly because over 75 percent of phones sold there cost under $250 -- giving rivals with low- to mid-range options, like Samsung, a distinct edge. Almost all phones --95 percent -- sell for less than $500.

In the past Apple has resorted to unusual tactics to compete, for instance selling iPhones considered outdated in virtually every other market. Just this March the company launched a 32 gigabyte iPhone 6.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a U.S. tour. On Sunday he attended a roundtable with CEOs like Apple's Tim Cook, and later today he's scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    anantksundaramanantksundaram Posts: 20,403member
    This is a huge first step in last big market for smartphones. 
    baconstangbb-15
  • Reply 2 of 17
    65026502 Posts: 380member
    How is it that in less than a years time they are able to manufacture iPhones in India but they can't manufacture them in the US? Somehow when they're told their phones will be banned in India unless they are made in India they can figure out a way to make them there. Astonishing.
  • Reply 3 of 17
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    6502 said:
    How is it that in less than a years time they are able to manufacture iPhones in India but they can't manufacture them in the US? Somehow when they're told their phones will be banned in India unless they are made in India they can figure out a way to make them there. Astonishing.
    Why AI failed to report the news that Foxconn will discontinue iPhone manufacturing in Brazil? Manufacturing is not a universal equal thing.  
    radarthekatbb-15
  • Reply 4 of 17
    This is a huge first step in last big market for smartphones. 
    How so? Indian consumers prefer $100 Android smartphones, not iPhones. Apple can't squeeze blood out of a stone. What's Apple's iPhone sales goal in India? 1%? Combined Android smartphones sales in India will easily top 99%. Apple's huge first step is like stepping into a huge pool of quicksand. Apple made forced concessions and will get nearly nothing out of it. Assuredly, Apple will be the laughingstock of smartphone sales in India and the news media will make sure everyone knows how poorly they're doing.
  • Reply 5 of 17
    I'm just curious if AppleInsider knew what share Apple has for the > $250 smartphone market in India? I mean, if they know.
  • Reply 6 of 17
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    I'm just curious if AppleInsider knew what share Apple has for the > $250 smartphone market in India? I mean, if they know.
    Apple is retreating in China.  India is Cook trying to lessen the effect in China. 
  • Reply 7 of 17
    ksecksec Posts: 1,569member
    tzeshan said:
    I'm just curious if AppleInsider knew what share Apple has for the > $250 smartphone market in India? I mean, if they know.
    Apple is retreating in China.  India is Cook trying to lessen the effect in China. 
    Not true. It may well be not going Great, but it is definitely doing fine.suddenly newton said:
    I'm just curious if AppleInsider knew what share Apple has for the > $250 smartphone market in India? I mean, if they know.
    India will be a difficult market much like Brazil. But I think it has more to do with the overall market economy and GDP rather then Apple's problem. Someday more and more people will be able to afford iPhone. 
    baconstang
  • Reply 8 of 17
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    ksec said:
    tzeshan said:
    I'm just curious if AppleInsider knew what share Apple has for the > $250 smartphone market in India? I mean, if they know.
    Apple is retreating in China.  India is Cook trying to lessen the effect in China. 
    Not true. It may well be not going Great, but it is definitely doing fine.suddenly newton said:
    Not true? Only two words? Do you have any facts to back up? 
  • Reply 9 of 17
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    This is a huge first step in last big market for smartphones. 
    How so? Indian consumers prefer $100 Android smartphones, not iPhones. Apple can't squeeze blood out of a stone. What's Apple's iPhone sales goal in India? 1%? Combined Android smartphones sales in India will easily top 99%. Apple's huge first step is like stepping into a huge pool of quicksand. Apple made forced concessions and will get nearly nothing out of it. Assuredly, Apple will be the laughingstock of smartphone sales in India and the news media will make sure everyone knows how poorly they're doing.
    India middle class is as big as the whole us population, there is money to be made there

    Apple only has 15 percent of the market world wide and less than 10% in many markets, doesn't stop them from controlling almost all profits in all those markets.
    guess BMW should also just shut down if they can't sell 20% of all cars in a country huh

    who the he'll cares if they're market share is 5% if that's 50% of high end market sales 2 billion in profits

    that the average asp is low is irrelevant to apple, just like its irrelevant that android phones are less than 200 bucks. That's not their segment

    get a clue how real companies work

    jony0baconstangbb-15
  • Reply 11 of 17
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    I guess since iPhone market share in India is only 2%, it is easy to grow it by 20%.  So Tim can brag in next earnings report.
  • Reply 12 of 17
    tzeshantzeshan Posts: 2,351member
    foggyhill said:
    This is a huge first step in last big market for smartphones. 
    How so? Indian consumers prefer $100 Android smartphones, not iPhones. Apple can't squeeze blood out of a stone. What's Apple's iPhone sales goal in India? 1%? Combined Android smartphones sales in India will easily top 99%. Apple's huge first step is like stepping into a huge pool of quicksand. Apple made forced concessions and will get nearly nothing out of it. Assuredly, Apple will be the laughingstock of smartphone sales in India and the news media will make sure everyone knows how poorly they're doing.
    India middle class is as big as the whole us population, there is money to be made there

    Apple only has 15 percent of the market world wide and less than 10% in many markets, doesn't stop them from controlling almost all profits in all those markets.
    guess BMW should also just shut down if they can't sell 20% of all cars in a country huh

    who the he'll cares if they're market share is 5% if that's 50% of high end market sales 2 billion in profits

    that the average asp is low is irrelevant to apple, just like its irrelevant that android phones are less than 200 bucks. That's not their segment

    get a clue how real companies work

    If India has so many middle class, why India wants Apple to sell iPhone cheaper in India? 
  • Reply 13 of 17
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    6502 said:
    How is it that in less than a years time they are able to manufacture iPhones in India but they can't manufacture them in the US? Somehow when they're told their phones will be banned in India unless they are made in India they can figure out a way to make them there. Astonishing.
    You think they're paying the workers in India as much as they would if they built them in the US?

    There are 7.5 billion people in the world. The US accounts for only 321 million of them. If for some reason the US slapped an import tax on Apple for goods manufactured in China, Apple could walk away from the US market entirely without much ling term impact.
  • Reply 14 of 17
    jony0jony0 Posts: 378member
    gmgravytrain said:
    What's Apple's iPhone sales goal in India? 1%?
    Why would their goal be for lesser market share than they have now ? Had you read the article you might have noticed that :
    The company controls just 3 percent of the country's smartphone market, mostly because over 75 percent of phones sold there cost under $250
    Had you also read the previous India related article :
    Apple's Tim Cook, other CEOs meet with India's Prime Minister in Washington - General Discussion Discussions on AppleInsider Forums
    AI added to that stat :
    Apple currently controls just 3 percent of the Indian smartphone market, mostly as a result of rivals like Samsung beating the company on price. Over 75 percent of the phones sold in the country cost less than $250, and 95 percent less than $500 -- well below the price of an iPhone 7.
    The iPhone has an ASP hovering at 650 $ or more, i.e. well over the 5% threshold of 500 $ in the India market. So having already 3% of a potential 5% is 60% of their target market share, which is probably closing in on business as usual for most of Apple's markets. That leaves the low to no margin leftovers to all your non-profit organizations selling Android.
    edited June 2017 baconstang
  • Reply 15 of 17
    This is a huge first step in last big market for smartphones. 
    How so? Indian consumers prefer $100 Android smartphones, not iPhones. Apple can't squeeze blood out of a stone. What's Apple's iPhone sales goal in India? 1%? Combined Android smartphones sales in India will easily top 99%. Apple's huge first step is like stepping into a huge pool of quicksand. Apple made forced concessions and will get nearly nothing out of it. Assuredly, Apple will be the laughingstock of smartphone sales in India and the news media will make sure everyone knows how poorly they're doing.
    Your basic lack of reading comprehension does not merit a serious response.
  • Reply 16 of 17

    tzeshan said:
    foggyhill said:
    This is a huge first step in last big market for smartphones. 
    How so? Indian consumers prefer $100 Android smartphones, not iPhones. Apple can't squeeze blood out of a stone. What's Apple's iPhone sales goal in India? 1%? Combined Android smartphones sales in India will easily top 99%. Apple's huge first step is like stepping into a huge pool of quicksand. Apple made forced concessions and will get nearly nothing out of it. Assuredly, Apple will be the laughingstock of smartphone sales in India and the news media will make sure everyone knows how poorly they're doing.
    India middle class is as big as the whole us population, there is money to be made there

    Apple only has 15 percent of the market world wide and less than 10% in many markets, doesn't stop them from controlling almost all profits in all those markets.
    guess BMW should also just shut down if they can't sell 20% of all cars in a country huh

    who the he'll cares if they're market share is 5% if that's 50% of high end market sales 2 billion in profits

    that the average asp is low is irrelevant to apple, just like its irrelevant that android phones are less than 200 bucks. That's not their segment

    get a clue how real companies work

    If India has so many middle class, why India wants Apple to sell iPhone cheaper in India? 
    Um... what?
  • Reply 17 of 17
    ksecksec Posts: 1,569member
    tzeshan said:
    ksec said:
    tzeshan said:
    I'm just curious if AppleInsider knew what share Apple has for the > $250 smartphone market in India? I mean, if they know.
    Apple is retreating in China.  India is Cook trying to lessen the effect in China. 
    Not true. It may well be not going Great, but it is definitely doing fine.suddenly newton said:
    Not true? Only two words? Do you have any facts to back up? 
    China Mobile release some yearly report on the figures, Benedict Evans as well as Asymco ( Basically the only two analysts on Planet Earth who really understand Apple and tech ).
    Spending on iOS Platform hasn't dropped. Usage on iOS platform hasn't dropped. But the Smartphone sales is still growing in China ( And has since slowed down a lot ), which means Apple is getting a smaller market share, which is where all the news are coming from.

    I definitely dont think this is retreating.

    India, is a totally different story though. ( Along with Brazil )  
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