SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 11, 2024 — iPhone-maker Apple (AAPL, Financial) just opened its largest research laboratory outside the U.S. at the Shenzhen Park in Hetao, according to a South China Morning Post report. The facility that's operational since Thursday, spans a whopping 20,000 square meters will be a focal area for Apple's research and development hub in the Greater Bay Area, covering Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Moreover, it is expected that the new lab will significantly boost Apple's research and testing capabilities for key products, such as its flagship iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro mixed-reality headsets. Additionally, the facility aims to potentially employ upwards of 1,000 domestic and international experts, solidifying its place as Apple's most extensive R&D center outside the U.S.
Additionally, Apple's expansion comes at a point where there is heightened competition in the Chinese region, with domestic smartphone makers such as Huawei continuing to gain ground over the Cupertino giant. Moreover, a few months ago in March, Apple revealed it had built research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen, doubling its development team over the past five years.
