One of Apple’s concerns is to make its devices more robust and reliable in “extreme” type situations. Are you using your iPhone in direct sunlight at 40 degrees or has your iPad been left on the garden table in the middle of winter for several hours? Apple wants your devices to withstand the worst conditions. To do this, the company carries out tests before marketing a new product. These tests aim to put the new iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro through the worst of times… to see how it reacts!
Apple opens extreme testing lab in China
Updated 11/10 : the laboratory opens its doors today. The largest R&D laboratory (outside the USA) which covers 20,000 square meters with a target of 1000 Chinese and international employees.
Apple is set to launch a new research center in Shenzhen, China, dedicated to improving the quality and reliability of its products, reports Shenzhen Daily. This laboratory, which will be financed by an investment of more than a billion yuan (around $138 million), will have the mission of testing Apple products in extreme conditions in order to see how far they can go in the worst conditions.
This new center will focus on experimenting with new materials and production techniques. The goal is to ensure that flagship products like the iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro can withstand extreme conditions such as intense physical activities and high or very low temperatures. Through these tests, Apple hopes to convincingly demonstrate the robustness and durability of its products.
A concrete example of this approach is the Apple Watch Ultra, whose models 1 and 2 have undergone careful testing in similar laboratories. These rigorous tests are highlighted in Apple’s advertising campaigns, the company has demonstrated that the Apple Watch Ultra is able to resist damage in very cold and very hot environments. Of course, these marketing speeches can only be used if the products have passed through laboratories that test the products under extreme conditions.
Why open this laboratory in China when Apple is trying to gradually abandon “Made in China”?
The choice of Shenzhen for the location of this research center is strategic. The city is close to many of Apple’s suppliers, which helps reduce transportation times and costs between production sites and the laboratory. Although Apple is diversifying its production by expanding to countries like Vietnam and India, China remains a central pillar of its manufacturing chain and this should be the case for a long time to come.
This new facility in China shows Apple’s confidence in the country for the research and development of its products. The Shenzhen center will play a key role in the continuous improvement of Apple products, ensuring they meet consumers’ high expectations for performance and durability.