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Apple Reportedly Aims for Double Digit Growth in iPhone Shipments in 2026; iPhone Fold to Be Produced in India

Apple Reportedly Aims for Double-Digit Growth in iPhone Shipments in 2026; iPhone Fold to Be Produced in India

Apple is expected to begin the NPI stage of the foldable iPhone in Japan before replicating the process in India.

Written by Shaurya Tomer, Edited by Ketan Pratap | Updated: 18 September 2025 13:26 IST

Apple Reportedly Aims for Double-Digit Growth in iPhone Shipments in 2026; iPhone Fold to Be Produced in India

Photo Credit: Apple

Apple's latest iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air are assembled in India, too

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Highlights

Apple's 2026 iPhone production is reported to exceed 240 million units
Shipments are expected to rise 10 percent over its 2025 estimates
Foldable iPhone production may later be replicated in India

Apple is said to be aiming for double-digit growth in iPhone shipments next year. According to information coming out of Japan, the Cupertino-based tech giant is looking to produce the highest volume of iPhone units in years. If this increase happens, the total production quantity of all iPhone models in 2026 could rise to more than 240 million iPhone units. Apple is also reportedly banking on its highly anticipated iPhone Fold to become a key contributor towards its shipment numbers.

Apple's Double-Digit Growth in 2026

According to a Nikkei report, Apple aims to produce about 95 million units of its next iPhone models in 2026. Consequently, it expects a 10 percent growth over its 2025 shipment numbers. Notably, the tech giant reportedly had an initial production projection of 85 million iPhone units in 2025 for its iPhone 17 series and a total production volume of 220 million units.

Citing sources, the report said that it would put Apple's overall manufacturing capacity at more than 240 million units in 2026 — the highest production volume in years.

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The Cupertino-based tech giant reportedly expects its long-anticipated foldable iPhone to contribute to the growth in shipments. The purported handset has been rumoured to be one of the two key initiatives that Apple is planning for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone. The device, ubiquitously known as the iPhone Fold, was previously reported to hit the market by 2027.

As per the report, Apple is in talks with suppliers in Taiwan to build a small test production line for the foldable iPhone, tapping into the existing ecosystem and engineering knowledge. This is likely to be part of the new product introduction (NPI) process — a multi-step plan during which a product goes from an ideation stage to final production.

Once the parameters and the manufacturing process for the foldable iPhone have been fine-tuned, Apple will then reportedly replicate the process in India to begin manufacturing the purported iPhone Fold in the country.

As per the report, this two-step approach towards the foldable handset is expected to accelerate the learning process and ensure a smooth establishment of the production line in India. Notably, the tech giant already manufactures a majority of its iPhone models in India, including the latest iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air, in partnership with Foxconn and the Tata Group.

iPhone 17

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Transformative and brighter ProMotion display
Powerful performance
Meaningful camera upgrades
More value-for-money
Great battery life

Bad
iOS 26 has glitches
Ineffective anti-reflective coating

Read detailed Apple iPhone 17 review

Display 6.30-inch

Processor Apple A19

Front Camera 18-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 26

Resolution 1206x2622 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone Air

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Incredibly lightweight and super thin
Stunning display
Solid performance
Good primary and selfie cameras

Bad
A single-camera sensor at the back
Slow charging
Battery life could have been better
Mono speaker leaves much to be desired
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone Air review

Display 6.50-inch

Processor Apple A19 Pro

Front Camera 18-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 26

Resolution 1260x2736 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: iPhone 17, iPhone, iPhone 18, iPhone Fold, Apple

Shaurya Tomer

Email Shaurya Tomer

Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More