Apple confirms iPhone 16 launch date in Indonesia as sales ban ends

Tech giant Apple has officially announced that the iPhone 16 series will be available in Indonesia starting from April 11, marking the end of a months-long sales ban in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

The company stated in its official newsroom update that the lineup will include the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16e.

The Indonesian government had blocked iPhone 16 sales last year after Apple failed to comply with regulations requiring at least 40% of phone components to be sourced locally. However, the company reached an agreement recently, paving the way for the ban to be lifted.

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In a bid to meet Indonesia's local sourcing requirements, Apple committed to investing over US$300 million in the country. This includes a US$150 million plan to establish a facility in Batam for AirTags production. Another facility in Bandung, West Java, will manufacture mesh fabric for AirPods Max headphones. 

Additionally, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita confirmed Apple's plans to build a semiconductor research and development centre, calling it a "first of its kind in Asia."

The Indonesian ministry of communication and digital affairs recently approved local certificates for more than a dozen Apple products, a key step in clearing the way for official sales. Last week, the ministry confirmed that Apple had also secured the necessary certification for telecommunication devices with transmission capabilities.

Jakarta had previously rejected Apple's US$100 million investment proposal in November, citing concerns over fairness. The government has also imposed similar restrictions on Google Pixel phones for failing to meet the local sourcing threshold.

Despite the previous ban, Indonesians were still able to bring in iPhones for personal use, as long as they were not traded commercially. With the new deal in place, Apple now regains access to a key market of 280 million Indonesians.

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