Apple opening its 3rd store in India in Bengaluru, Phoenix Mall is the place

India Today

2 days ago

Apple is doubling down on India, and Bengaluru is next in line for the Apple retail experience. The tech giant is set to open its third physical store in the country, this time at the Phoenix Mall of Asia in Hebbal, Bengaluru, according to a Business Standard report. The move is part of Apple's growing love affair with India, even as tensions brew across the Pacific. advertisementSet to occupy a prime 8,000 square foot space on the mall's first floor, the new store will be similar in scale to Apple's Delhi outlet, though still dwarfed by the brand's flagship Mumbai store, which covers a whopping 20,800 square feet. While not the largest, the Bengaluru location is expected to pack the same Apple aura — minimalist interiors, expert staff in black tees, and plenty of glass. The report also stated that Apple has leased the place for 10 years. Apple will cough up 2 per cent of its store revenue for the first three years, with the figure climbing to 2.5 per cent in subsequent years. It added, "The lease period has commenced from November 8, 2024, while the rent commencement date is August 8, 2025." This means that the store may open in just a few months from now. advertisement
This store is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently confirmed the company's intent to open four more retail outlets in India, with Pune and Delhi-NCR joining Mumbai and Bengaluru on the map. The first two stores, which opened in 2023, were seen as symbolic steps in Apple's India journey, this third opening signals something much more permanent.India has become central to Apple's global plans, not just as a market for sales, but increasingly as a key manufacturing hub. In fact, Cook told analysts during Apple's Q2 2025 earnings call that, come June, most iPhones sold in the United States will carry a 'Made in India' tag. Meanwhile, Vietnam will be the country of origin for the majority of iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods sold stateside.But while Apple expands its footprint across South and Southeast Asia, the mood in Washington is anything but relaxed. President Donald Trump has issued a warning shot, threatening a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones not made in the United States, in a bid to nudge Apple back toward domestic production. It's the latest twist in the ongoing US-China trade saga, one that now seems to be pulling India and Vietnam into its orbit.What remains unclear is whether these looming tariffs will force Apple to re-evaluate its overseas bets. But judging by the company's current pace in India, and the ink now dry on a decade-long lease in Bengaluru, it appears Apple has no plans to hit the pause button. With more stores on the way and India playing an increasingly vital role in Apple's global supply chain.