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Apple asks suppliers to ramp up iPhone 17 production after strong demand

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Apple has instructed suppliers to increase production of the entry-level iPhone 17 by at least 30%, after stronger-than-expected pre-orders last weekend, according to The Information. The move indicates that more consumers are opting for the $799 standard model over the premium Pro versions, which start at $1,099.

Apple reportedly asked Luxshare Precision, one of its two main Chinese assemblers alongside Foxconn, to boost daily output of the iPhone 17 by about 40%. The company has not commented on the report.

The surge in demand for the lower-cost iPhone comes as Apple seeks to revive growth in its flagship product line. The new lineup includes the thinner iPhone Air, part of Apple’s effort to lure buyers in a sluggish upgrade cycle. Notably, the iPhone 17 incorporates screen and camera upgrades once exclusive to the Pro models, narrowing the performance gap with higher-priced versions.

Analysts say the trend highlights growing price sensitivity among consumers, particularly in China and other key markets. While strong sales of the entry model may help Apple protect its market share, they could also pressure profit margins, as buyers shift away from Apple’s traditionally higher-margin Pro devices.

OpenAI teams with Apple supplier Luxshare to build consumer AI device

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OpenAI has struck a deal with Luxshare, a major Apple supplier, to manufacture a prototype consumer AI device, according to The Information. The pocket-sized gadget is being designed to work natively with OpenAI’s AI models and adapt to user context, potentially offering an alternative to smartphones and PCs as the main way people interact with artificial intelligence.

The project represents one of the boldest pushes yet by an AI firm into dedicated hardware, rather than layering AI onto existing devices. Analysts say an “AI-native” product could open entirely new markets while challenging the dominance of established consumer electronics leaders such as Apple, Samsung, and Google.

OpenAI earlier this year acquired io Products, a hardware startup founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, in a $6.5 billion deal to accelerate its hardware ambitions. Luxshare—best known for assembling iPhones and AirPods—will provide the large-scale manufacturing muscle. OpenAI has also reached out to Goertek, another Apple supplier, for components such as speaker modules.

Neither Luxshare nor OpenAI has commented publicly on the report. But the move underscores OpenAI’s effort to expand beyond software like ChatGPT into consumer electronics, a sector where hardware-software integration is often the key to success.

If successful, the device could pose a new kind of competition to smartphones by offering a lightweight, AI-first alternative—part personal assistant, part communications tool—that reimagines how users connect to digital ecosystems.

Nexperia Parent Wingtech to Sell Electronics Arm Amid Geopolitical Shifts

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Wingtech (600745.SS), the Chinese company that owns European chip maker Nexperia, has announced plans to sell roughly half of its business, focusing more on chipmaking in response to changes in the geopolitical environment. This strategic move follows the company’s recent inclusion on the U.S. government’s “entity list,” which targets firms perceived to aid the Chinese government in acquiring sensitive chipmaking technology.

The sale will involve Wingtech’s “product integration” business, which includes contract manufacturing of smartphones, home appliances, and other electronics. Following the transaction, Wingtech intends to concentrate its efforts on strengthening its semiconductor division and solidifying its position as a leading global player in the power semiconductor sector.

The filing, submitted to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, did not disclose the price of the sale, but it revealed that the business to be sold accounts for between 50% and 60% of Wingtech’s revenues, although it represents no more than half of its total assets. Luxshare Ltd., a Hong Kong-based company that is also the controlling shareholder of Luxshare Precision Industry Co. (002475.SZ), an Apple supplier, will be the buyer of the business.

Nexperia, which Wingtech acquired in 2019, has stated that it does not anticipate any impact on its operations from being placed on the U.S. entity list, though they were not immediately available for comment on the sale.