New iPhone 15 production has already begun — and more details just leaked

iPhone 15 Pro Max mockup with thin bezels
(Image credit: Unbox Therapy / YouTube)

All signs point to a September date for Apple's launch of the next generation iPhone 15 series. Anticipation is rising with each passing day, where leaks in the last couple of weeks indicate substantial change to this year’s lineup of iPhones — including a dummy unit showing off the iPhone 15 Pro’s new USB-C port and Action button

Now there’s even more indication of an impending iPhone 15 launch in the form of on a report indicating that production is underway. That, along with a recently uncovered regulatory filing, suggests a September iPhone 15 announcement is very much on track.

There’s a ton of buzz with this year’s iPhone announcement for many reasons, but it’s especially true for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The latter’s been hyped as the biggest leap for an Apple handset since the iPhone X, which is saying a lot when you think how that phone radically shifted the design language and features for the series. This year’s top-of-the-line models sound like worthy follow ups that should make for an interesting race for the rest of the year.

Here’s what we know about the new iPhone 15 production based on the latest reports.

Regulatory filing indicates impending announcement

You know a device is nearing release whenever companies file paperwork with local regulatory agencies. The team over at MySmartPrice uncovered a regulatory filing this week under the mobile phones product category in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) database — essentially India's equivalent of the U.S. FCC. That filing revealed an “Apple smartphone with the model number A3094,” which could presumably be any of the iPhone 15 models Apple’s expected to announce.

If we’re to go back to last year and revisit the events leading up to the iPhone 14’s announcement, it showed how a different regulatory filing was uncovered in the same Indian regulatory database. Eventually, it was revealed to be the standard iPhone 14 — and the database was subsequently updated with the rest of the iPhones. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that we’re nearing an iPhone 15 release based on this new bit of data.

That’s because it’s quite common for companies to file regulatory applications for its devices ahead of launch. Many FCC filings have uncovered yet-to-be released devices, so it’s a safe assumption that this A3094 model number is any one of the new iPhones.

Production begins in India, continues in China

Coincidentally enough, it appears as though iPhone 15 production is well underway. Bloomberg reports that Foxconn, one of Apple's contractors, also started production in its India facility — joining the production that already happened in China.

The goal for Apple is to narrow the gap between its two assembly locations. Its India manufacturing hub accounted for about 7% of the total Phone 14 units that were produced in March of this year. People familiar with the matter said that Apple is looking to increase the volume levels from its India factory. This new report again indicates that we’re at the cusp of an iPhone announcement.

Increasing the volume levels is going to be critical for Apple, especially if there will be big iPhone 15 demand from consumers. We saw how Apple struggled to keep up with the demand last fall with its iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max models, so this could be a measure to prevent the same situation from happening again. That shortage was the driving factor in Apple’s 8% drop in iPhone 14 sales when the company announced its holiday earnings back in February of this year.

By increasing the production from its India production plant, Apple would be in a better position to meet market demand for its new iPhone 15. Without question, Apple will need to ramp up its iPhone 15 production when you consider how there’s even more of a revenue opportunity with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is reportedly in line for a price increase from the iPhone 14 Pro Max's $1,099 cost.

We also have to factor in competing devices on the horizon, like Google’s new Pixel 8 phones, along with current foldables from Samsung — which is all making for some serious competition leading up to the critical holiday season.

More from Tom's Guide

John Velasco
Senior Channel Editor for Phones

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.

Read more
Renders of the iphone 17 in teal, green and dark green
iPhone 17 rumors — everything we know so far
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
iPhone 17 Pro Max — all the rumors so far
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Pro Max leak claims it’s ready for production — and seems to confirm its new design
Iphone 17 pro max render next to iPhone 16 Pro Max being held in hand
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Biggest expected upgrades
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — 5 biggest revelations from new in-depth report
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: 7 biggest expected upgrades
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air just tipped for exclusive upgrade regular iPhone 17 won't get
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 18 may miss out on this performance upgrade — what we know
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — 5 biggest revelations from new in-depth report
Zens Quattro Wireless Charging Pro 4 charging station with 3 iphones and an AirPods case
Double-decker 'AirPower' charger now available from Apple — here's what it costs
Foldable iPhone concept image
Are you sitting down? Here’s what the foldable iPhone could cost
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19's big redesign is tipped to bring a whole new look and unite all of Apple's devices — and pave the way for a foldable iPhone
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Wednesday, March 19 (#647)
Chromecast with Google TV connected to display
Google finally pushes out full Chromecast fix for users who factory reset — here’s what to do
A picture of a skull and bones on a smartphone depicting malware
Hundreds of malicious Android apps with 60 million downloads found spamming Android users with ads and stealing credentials
Switch 2 console and logo
Nintendo Switch 2 rumor just tipped possible release date — and it's much sooner than we thought
Hacker typing on laptop in darkened room
Hackers create "BRUTED" tool to attack VPNs – how to stay safe
Malware
Dangerous new password-stealing trojan automatically reinstalls itself on infected PCs