Apple Opens Extensive Research Lab in Shenzhen, China

Apple has opened a new applied research laboratory in Shenzhen, China, marking a significant expansion of its research and development capabilities in the world's largest smartphone market. The facility, which began operations on Thursday, is located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong tech cooperation zone.

hetao shenzen hong kong tech hub xinhua

Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Tech Cooperation Zone, China (Photo: Xinhua)

Apple announced plans for the Shenzhen lab in March, stating it would enhance testing and research for major products including the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro spatial computing headset. The lab is also intended to strengthen Apple's collaboration with local suppliers.

Spanning 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) in its initial phase, the facility is set to become Apple's research and development hub in the Greater Bay Area. This economic region encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong province.

According to state media reports, the lab will eventually employ over 1,000 domestic and international talents. Apple has described it as its "most extensive" lab outside the United States, underscoring the company's commitment to the Chinese market.

The move comes as Apple faces increasing competition in China, particularly from Shenzhen-based Huawei. Recent data from research firm CINNO showed that in August, Huawei outsold Apple in mainland China for the first time in nearly four years.

Despite efforts to diversify its manufacturing supply chain outside China, Apple continues to invest in research within the country. The company has previously established research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen, with its research and development team in China reportedly doubling in size over the past five years.

(Via South China Morning Post.)

Tag: China

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Top Rated Comments

xnsys Avatar
9 months ago
Research lab in China???......What on earth could possibly go wrong? Have we not learnt from the last time???
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Techwatcher Avatar
9 months ago
I know I’m not the only one that thinks this is a terrible idea
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DHagan4755 Avatar
9 months ago
This move sounds like an olive branch to China. Meanwhile if I’m Apple I keep working to move assembly of Apple hardware out of China.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cjsuk Avatar
9 months ago

Whilst you can't ignore the ethics issues associated with China, some of the consumer technology that comes out of the country is years ahead of what's coming out of the West.
Not really. Most of the IP and engineering work is not done in China, even on Chinese products!

I know someone sitting in an office in the UK designing chips for a Chinese telecoms company's internal products.

Globalisation is a very strange thing.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jake.au Avatar
9 months ago

Whilst you can't ignore the ethics issues associated with China, some of the consumer technology that comes out of the country is years ahead of what's coming out of the West.
Don't fall for the propaganda
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
infiniteentropy Avatar
9 months ago
Hey, Apple: China has you by the short and curlies and I want no part of anything you do ever again. "Human Rights" is not a buzzword or trend; it is essential to humanity itself.

Greed is killing Apple. Well, and the world. But in this case, it's killing Apple. I used to hold your work apart from the others as special but now it's more commodity schlock packed with ads.

We need a good solid third option that respects privacy and freedom.

</rant>
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)