Apple’s expanding local manufacturing operations in India at the cost of China has reportedly triggered a slugfest on social media platforms, questioning the quality of the latest iPhone 15s being made in the South Asian nation.
For the first time, India-made iPhone 15 and 15Plus devices were made available on the first day of the sale on September 22, along with China units, across the world.
China’s reaction to India-made iPhones
Several users on social media platforms such as the Chinese site Weibo and X (formerly Twitter) posted adverse comments related to quality and even hygiene issues on India-made iPhones.
One post on Weibo also alleged that the India-made iPhone15 units were diverted to China after being rejected in Europe for having quality issues.
Some of the comments on the site were also sarcastic. In one such tweet, a user sarcastically remarked, “The first release seems to be random. Tear the film and smell the curry first; it’s okay in India, it’s clean and hygienic, guys.”
State media in China, however, denied claims of diversion. But it took a pot shot at Apple’s India capacities. “China is one of the largest markets for Apple, and the production capacity of India cannot meet the demand in China”.
China-based Journalist Wenhao, who writes for Voice of America, posted a thread on X mentioning how some Chinese handles have been targeting India for its growing role in Apple’s manufacturing network.
A false claim was also spread, alleging that 50 percent of the iPhone 15 made in India were returned, he wrote, according to media reports. Indian users and industry executives have, however, been quick to rebuff the comments, pointing to how the locally made devices were as good as any manufactured elsewhere.
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