The news: While 2023 is expected to be a lean year for Apple releases—except its possible expansion into AR/VR goggles—the company is making moves to control development and production of more components.
Control over supply chain: There are signs of Apple pulling in various development and production processes in-house to have greater control over component supply and create even more tightly integrated products.
Why it’s worth watching: As it becomes larger and more successful, Apple may want to rely less on external partners and production hubs and bring all possible production in-house.
Short-term expense could lead to better market control: Building the factories and establishing the processes required to design and build bespoke radios, displays, and touchscreens will require a sizable investment but could set Apple up for future success.
A huge loss for suppliers: Once Apple weans itself off reliance on third-party suppliers, many of these companies stand to lose their largest customer and could have a hard time adjusting to life without Apple.
This article originally appeared in Insider Intelligence's Connectivity & Tech Briefing—a daily recap of top stories reshaping the technology industry. Subscribe to have more hard-hitting takeaways delivered to your inbox daily.