Apple has opened a new applied research lab in the city of Shenzhen, reflecting the company’s growing interest in China, which is the world’s largest market for smartphones.
The lab is located in the tech collaboration zone between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and has already started operations after Apple announced its intention to establish the lab in March last year. The purpose of this facility is to enhance research and testing related to a range of the company’s key products, such as iPhones, iPads, and the Apple Glass, as well as to strengthen cooperation with local suppliers in China.
The lab spans an area of 20,000 square meters in its first phase and is expected to become Apple’s main hub in the Greater Bay Area of China, boosting the company’s investments in research and development in the country. According to Chinese reports, the lab will house over a thousand employees with both local and international expertise, making it one of Apple’s largest labs outside the United States.
This move comes as Apple faces strong competition from local companies like Huawei, which is based in Shenzhen. Data from CINNO Research indicated that Huawei surpassed Apple in sales in China in August last year, marking the first time in about four years.
Despite the challenges, Apple continues to invest in research and development in China, having previously established research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou. It is said that Apple’s research and development team in China has doubled in size over the past five years, reflecting the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Chinese market by enhancing its products and technologies to meet the needs of this important market.
