Apple's 15-Year Journey in India: From the iPhone 3S to the First Store in Mumbai

As Apple expands its production of iPhone models in India, here's how the company fared over the last 15 years in the country.

By Reuters | Updated: 18 April 2023 18:42 IST

Apple's 15-Year Journey in India: From the iPhone 3S to the First Store in Mumbai

Photo Credit: Apple

Apple opened its first store in the country in Mumbai (pictured) on Tuesday

Highlights

Apple made its debut in India in 2008 with the iPhone 3G
Apple CEO Tim Cook met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016
Apple launched its first online store in India in September 2020

It took Apple 15 years from when it first started selling its iPhone in India to having a company-run retail store in now the world's second biggest smartphone market, one where it has faced several business challenges.

As Apple opens its first stores, here is a timeline of its journey in India, where the US firm's contract manufacturers are increasingly making iPhones.

August 2008: iPhone 3G made its debut in India minus the mass hysteria and winding queues that had marked its launch in the US, Europe and parts of Asia.

India’s First Apple Store Opens Its Doors to Customers in Mumbai

January 2016: Apple files an application with India's government to set up its own stores in India.

May 2016: Apple chief Tim Cook met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for the first time as the company looks at plotting an expansion strategy.

June 2016: India relaxes its investment rules for foreign retailers, clearing way for giants such as Apple and IKEA to set up stores in the country.

Apple Craze, Tim Cook Draw Long Queues at Opening of First India Store

May 2017: Apple, working with contract manufacturer Wistron, started local assembly of iPhones for the first time in India at Bengaluru with its iPhone SE model.

September 2020: Apple launched its first online store in India, coinciding with the country's holiday season.

October 2020: India approved incentives under a federal plan to boost domestic smartphone production to 16 companies, including top Apple suppliers.

December 2020: Contract workers at the Bengaluru factory of Apple supplier Wistron ransacked the facility after a protest against unpaid wages. The factory was put on probation by Apple before resuming production two months later.

December 2021: Protests erupted at the Tamil Nadu plant of Foxconn after more than 250 women workers who live in one of the company dormitories were treated for food poisoning. Apple later found facilities did not meet required standards and the factory was closed for over three weeks.

December 2021: India's competition watchdog orders an investigation into Apple's in-app fee system, saying it was of the initial view that the iPhone maker had violated certain antitrust laws.

September 2022: Apple supplier Pegatron inaugurated its first plant in Tamil Nadu state to assemble iPhones.

February 2023: Apple supplier Foxlink, which manufactures iPhone chargers, halted production temporarily at its assembly facility in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh after a massive fire caused part of the building to collapse.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

Apple is opening its first stores in India, one in Mumbai and the other in Delhi. What does this mean for Apple customers in India? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Apple iPhone 3G

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Processor 412 MHz one-core

Front Camera Unspecified

Rear Camera 2-megapixel

RAM 128MB

Storage 8GB

OS iOS

Resolution 320x480 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone SE

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS
Variants

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Great performance
Good rear camera

Bad
Underwhelming selfie camera
Starts at 16GB storage

Read detailed Apple iPhone SE review

Display 4.00-inch

Processor Apple A9

Front Camera 1.2-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel

RAM 2GB

Storage 16GB

OS iOS 9.3

Resolution 640x1136 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Choose a variant

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.