9iPhone Price Hike in India 2026: Older Models Become More Expensive Apple has surprised Indian smartphone buyers with a significant increase in the prices of several iPhone models. The price revision came shortly after Apple introduced its latest iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable iPhone Duo. Instead of reducing the prices of older iPhone models as usually happens after a new generation arrives Apple has increased prices across several models in India.
iPhone 16 Price Increased in IndiaThe iPhone 16 has also become more expensive following the latest Apple pricing revision. The 128GB version of the iPhone 16 is now priced at ₹89,900 compared with its earlier price of ₹79,900. This represents an increase of ₹10,000.The price increase is important because the iPhone 16 was expected to become a more affordable option after the arrival of newer iPhone models. Instead buyers looking for an older generation iPhone from Apple now have to spend more.
The Times of IndiaiPhone 17 Gets a ₹17,000 Price IncreaseThe iPhone 17 has experienced one of the most noticeable price increases. Its 256GB model was earlier launched at ₹82,900. Following the latest revision its price has increased to ₹99,900.This means buyers now have to pay ₹17,000 more for the same storage variant. The specifications of the iPhone 17 have not changed because of the price revision. The increase applies to the price rather than introducing additional hardware features. +1The 512GB version has also become more expensive and is now priced at ₹1,24,900.iPhone 17e Also Becomes More ExpensiveApple has increased the price of the iPhone 17e as well. The device was introduced at ₹64,900 for its entry configuration. Its revised price has reached ₹79,900.This represents a ₹15,000 increase. The change makes the iPhone 17e considerably more expensive for consumers who were looking for a relatively lower priced entry point into the newer iPhone generation.
IndiaiPhone Air Sees a Major IncreaseThe iPhone Air has received an even larger price revision. Its starting price has increased from ₹1,19,900 to ₹1,49,900.The higher storage versions have also seen substantial increases. The 1TB version has reached ₹2,24,900 after the latest revision. Reports indicate that this represents an increase of ₹65,000 compared with its earlier price.The scale of the increase makes the iPhone Air one of the most significantly affected models in the latest Apple pricing changes in India.
Why Are iPhone Prices IncreasingOne of the major reasons being reported is the increasing cost of memory and storage components. Global demand for memory chips has increased significantly because of the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centres.The growing demand has contributed to pressure on the supply of memory components. Higher component costs can increase manufacturing expenses for consumer electronics companies. Reports have linked the latest iPhone price changes to these broader memory supply pressures.
The situation is particularly interesting because Apple has historically reduced the prices of older iPhone models when new generations arrive. This year the company has taken a different approach in India.Why iPhones Cost More in IndiaIndia is an important market for Apple and also a major manufacturing location for iPhones. However local manufacturing does not completely remove the effect of taxes and other costs.India applies an 18 percent goods and services tax on smartphones. Import duties on components can also contribute to the overall cost of devices. These factors help explain why iPhone prices in India can remain considerably higher than prices in some other major markets.
Apple has also expanded iPhone production in India in recent years. This has helped strengthen the company’s manufacturing presence in the country but Indian consumers can still face higher retail prices because of the overall cost structure.iPhone 18 Pro Changes the Apple Price StructureApple has introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max as its latest premium smartphones. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900 while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at ₹1,79,900 in India.The new generation has therefore entered the market at significantly higher prices compared with previous Pro models.
Apple has also introduced the iPhone Duo as its first foldable iPhone. The device starts at ₹2,99,900 in India according to reports. This places it firmly in the premium smartphone category.
What the Price Hike Means for BuyersThe latest price changes could affect consumers who were waiting for older iPhones to become cheaper after the launch of the new generation.Many customers traditionally purchase the previous generation because Apple often keeps older models available at lower prices. This strategy allows buyers to get an iPhone experience without paying the full price of the latest model.The latest pricing structure changes that expectation. Buyers considering the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 now have to compare the increased official prices with offers available through authorised retailers and seasonal promotions.Retail prices can sometimes differ from official prices because retailers may provide discounts or exchange benefits. Customers should therefore check the final selling price before making a purchase.Festive Season ImpactThe price increase comes close to India’s major festive shopping period. This timing could influence smartphone purchasing decisions because consumers generally look for discounts and exchange offers during major shopping events.A higher official price could also change the way retailers structure promotions. Some retailers may use bank offers exchange discounts and promotional benefits to make iPhones more attractive to customers.However buyers should compare the final effective price rather than looking only at the advertised discount.Apple Customers Face a New Pricing RealityThe latest iPhone price increase represents an unusual change in Apple’s traditional product strategy. Older models have become more expensive even after the arrival of newer devices.The iPhone 17 now starts at ₹99,900 while the iPhone 16 starts at ₹89,900. The iPhone 17e starts at ₹79,900 and the iPhone Air starts at ₹1,49,900.
The increases vary considerably depending on the model and storage capacity. Some variants have seen relatively moderate increases while others have become dramatically more expensive.Final ThoughtsApple’s latest iPhone price hike in India has changed expectations surrounding older iPhone models. Instead of becoming cheaper after the arrival of a new generation several existing models have received substantial price increases.Rising memory and storage costs are being cited as an important factor behind the broader pricing pressure. India’s taxes and import related costs also contribute to the relatively high retail prices of Apple devices in the country.
For consumers the biggest change is that waiting for an older iPhone to become cheaper may not always produce the expected result. Buyers should compare official prices retailer offers exchange benefits and storage options before purchasing.The latest developments also show how global component shortages and growing artificial intelligence demand can influence everyday consumer electronics. The iPhone price hike is therefore not simply a change in Apple’s pricing strategy. It also reflects wider changes taking place across the global technology supply chain.