Apple has sent the invites for an event next month where it’s expected to show off its new range of smartphones, more of which could be made in India amid ongoing trade wars between the US and China.
The iPhone 11 is expected to be unveiled at the September 10 event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino.
Other products rumoured to potentially make an appearance at the event include a new Homepod speaker, 16-inch MacBook Pro, updates to the Apple Watch, and details on services such as Apple Music and the soon-to-launch SVOD service TV+.
Three new iPhone models are expected to form the focus of the event however, with several details having already leaked in the lead-up to launch.
It’s predicted the next generation of iPhones will feature triple lens camera arrays and a new A13 processor, but a key focus will also be on what the phones will lack.
USB-C and 5G are expected to be left out of the new range, with a note from Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo obtained by MacRumors predicting the technology will instead show up in a dramatic iPhone overhaul in 2020.
One renowned leaker has also claimed the other leaks of the iPhone 11 have got it wrong, saying the new iPhones are “completely different” to those shown in leaks.
Many of the three new iPhones, which are expected to be a base model complemented by two different sizes of Pro model, could be produced in India.
Earlier this year, Apple asked its manufacturing partners, including Foxconn to investigate moving significant production out of China.
Apple currently makes iPhones intended for the Indian market at a manufacturing partner’s plant in Bengaluru.
Bloomberg has reported India’s government will relax local sourcing laws for foreign direct investment in single brand retail, meaning Apple could soon produce more iPhones in India.
These devices could be exported without having to procure as many materials locally, where they are more scarce.
It also opens the door for the Cupertino company to begin selling its products online without having to first open a brick-and-mortar retail location.
Reuters reports Indian officials are seeking to woo big tech companies, including Apple, to move production to India as ongoing trade disputes between the US and China drive prices up.
