After a protracted four-month delay, Apple has secured the green light for its iPhone 16 series to re-enter the Indonesian market. The company announced that sales will commence next month on April 11, including the entire lineup, namely the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and the newly released iPhone 16e.
Reuters reports that the final investment commitment from Apple stands at $300 million, a significant reduction from the previously cited $1 billion. It is unclear whether this investment is meant to increase in the future or if Apple simply managed to secure a better deal.
The ban on the iPhone 16 series originated from Indonesia’s stringent “Domestic Component Level” (TKDN) regulations. These rules mandate that foreign firms incorporate 40% local content through manufacturing, software development, or research and development centers. Initially, in October, Indonesia halted iPhone 16 series sales due to Apple’s insufficient investment.
This resulted in a prolonged negotiation, with Apple reportedly escalating its investment offers up to $1 billion, according to some reports. Contrary to initial government demands for local iPhone production, Apple has committed to establishing manufacturing facilities for AirTag trackers and accessories. Additionally, the tech giant will invest in research and development centers and educational programs for Indonesian students.
As for Apple’s upcoming plans, the Cupertino giant means to introduce a major software redesign across its entire ecosystem at the upcoming WWDC25 event in June. Furthermore, there are rumors that Apple also has plans to introduce cameras and AI features for Apple Watches, likely for multimodal generative AI support.