Apple to Build Foldable iPhone in India After Testing in Taiwan [Report]

Apple is in talks with suppliers to build a test production line for a foldable iPhone in Taiwan, with the goal of mass-producing the device in India for a possible 2026 release, according to a Nikkei Asia report. The effort is tied to Apple's push to raise iPhone shipments by about 10 percent that year and move more new product development away from China.

The 2026 target lines up with earlier reports pointing to Apple's first foldable as part of a three-year iPhone overhaul. Leaks suggest the device will fold book-style, built with a titanium frame and metallic glass hinge. It's said to have a 7.6 to 7.8-inch internal display, a crease-free panel supplied exclusively by Samsung Display, and side-button Touch ID instead of Face ID.

Nikkei reports that suppliers have scouted land in northern Taiwan for a small pilot line that would test equipment and refine the process before shifting to India for volume production. The site would need around a thousand operators, and while the plan isn't final, Apple views it as a way to smooth out the steep learning curve of a foldable iPhone. Taiwan's limited labor and land remain hurdles, but its engineering base makes it well-suited for early runs.


Apple has faced problems ramping in India, from getting equipment in from China to restrictions on Chinese technicians. Splitting development between Taiwan and India is seen as a way to avoid those bottlenecks while reducing exposure to U.S.-China and China-India tensions.

On production, sources told Nikkei Apple has set a preliminary goal of 95 million iPhones for the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026, up from 85 million for this year's iPhone 17. Total output across all models could top 240 million units, compared to about 220 million in 2025. Apple believes the foldable will help drive that growth by boosting demand for iPhones overall.

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