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Introduction
Launch week demand
Pricing of iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB): India vs Other Markets
Why Demand Slowed Down in India
What about your Old iPhone When You Upgrade
Reviewers’ Take on iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Final Thoughts
FAQ
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max went on sale in India on September 18, and buyers formed long queues outside Apple stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, and Bengaluru. Some buyers lined up from 5 am, even though the Pro starts at ₹1,64,900 and the Pro Max at ₹1,79,900. Early demand matched the excitement. Counterpoint Research said initial Pro sales were nearly 20% higher than the iPhone 17 Pro’s a year earlier, and its analysts argued that Pro demand was largely unaffected by the higher price.
The festive season then changed the picture. Retailers reported that iPhone sales around Dussehra fell by up to 30%, and analysts expect India’s iPhone shipments to decline by double digits this year. The Pro models were not the weak spot, though. Retailers say the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max remain in short supply. Meanwhile, Apple attributed price hikes on older iPhones to rising memory chip costs. The shortage of a cheaper base iPhone 18 also gave festive shoppers fewer affordable options. In the sections ahead, we break down how pricing, memory costs, and shifting buyer habits are reshaping the market, and what you should watch for before your next upgrade.
Apple kicked off its 2026 product line with a bang; day-one store checks showed a 15-28 percent increase over the previous year. Outlook Business reported 20- 30 percent higher sales on launch day. Apple stores had long queues, and BigBasket had sold over 300 units by 9 am; with demand running high, delivery dates were pushed to October.
These figures offer only a preliminary indication of demand, as the data comes from just 12 stores in North Indian cities.
Comparison | Price |
|---|---|
India | ₹1,64,900 |
UAE | (about ₹1,32,100) ₹32,800 cheaper |
Australia | About ₹1,31,219 (20% cheaper) |
United kingdom | About ₹1,54,831 (6% cheaper) |
Overall, higher prices, limited upgrades, and fewer attractive offers have made buyers more cautious. Many iPhone users are sticking with their existing devices rather than spending more on an upgrade.
Cause | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|
High price rise | ₹30,000 (about 22%) above the 17 Pro; 2TB tier at ₹3,14,900. UAE and Australia are materially cheaper. | Fossbytes, Esquire India, TelecomTalk |
Memory-cost inflation | Global memory shortage from AI demand pushed prices up across phones; entry-level phones hit hardest. | TrendForce via Benzinga; Nokiamob |
No standard iPhone 18 | Base model delayed to early 2027, which reduced festive momentum and lowered the price entry point. | Business Today, NewsBytes (Omdia) |
Longer replacement cycles | Older iPhones continue to perform well, so owners are delaying upgrades. | Omdia via NewsBytes |
Limited discounts and stock issues | Fewer promotional offers; selective model shortages; retailers left with excess inventory. | Beebom, NewsBytes |
Incremental upgrade | Camera hardware largely unchanged from the 17 Pro; reviewers called it a familiar iPhone with welcome upgrades. | Smartprix review, Fossbytes |
The rising cost of premium smartphones has made resale value an important part of upgrade decisions. Instead of letting an old iPhone sit unused, users can sell it and recover its value towards their next purchase. One way to reduce the cost is to sell your old iPhone instead of leaving it unused. Platforms like BuyBacKart make this process easier by offering online price estimates, free doorstep pickup, and instant payment after device verification. This gives users another way to manage the cost of upgrading to a newer iPhone.
Smartprix tested the phone for over a week and called it a familiar iPhone with welcome upgrades. It praised the battery and fast charging and noted the camera hardware is mostly the same.
Marques Brownlee shared reviews on 16 September 2026 and described it as a high-priced “S release”. He praised the chip and the camera.
Tech Burner highlights several concerns in his iPhone 18 Pro review. He points out that the thin aluminium layer makes the phone more prone to dents and scratches. He also notes that the device weighs 16 grams more than the iPhone 17 and has sharp edges that may feel uncomfortable during use. According to his review, the phone looks similar to its predecessor, with no major visual changes. The reviewer highlights a mismatch with the official Apple charger and criticises the cluttered camera design.
News18 also highlighted early owner reports of connectivity, speaker, and software problems, arguing that such flaws are harder to excuse at the iPhone 18 Pro’s high price. These concerns add to the wider discussion around the phone’s familiar design and incremental improvements over its predecessor.
The iPhone 18 Pro's strong launch shows that interest in Apple's premium smartphones remains high in India. However, higher prices, longer replacement cycles and fewer attractive offers may be affecting festive-season demand. Its ₹1,64,900 starting price also makes it considerably more expensive than in markets such as the UAE and Australia. While available reports suggest a slowdown in overall iPhone sales, the exact sales performance remains unknown. Apple's official sales figures will provide a clearer picture.
Q1. How much does the iPhone 18 Pro cost in India?
The starting models begin at ₹1,64,900 for 256 GB.
Q2. How much did the price go up?
About ₹30,000, or 22%, over the iPhone 17 Pro series.
Q3. Is it cheaper abroad?
Yes, about ₹32,800 cheaper in the UAE and 20% cheaper in Australia.
Q4. Why is there no standard iPhone 18 this year?
Apple moved it to early 2027, and the reports don’t say why.
Q5. Did Apple cut iPhone 18 Pro production?
India Today reported a cut of up to 20% because high prices hurt demand.
