Apple has raised the prices of several existing iPhone models in India by as much as 41%, shortly after unveiling its new iPhone lineup and first foldable iPhone. The increase is unusual because older iPhones typically become cheaper when a new generation arrives.
iPhone 17 price rises to ₹99,900
The lower-storage version of the iPhone 17 now costs ₹99,900 in India, representing an increase of nearly 21%. In the US, the equivalent model has seen a much smaller increase, highlighting the difference in Apple's latest regional pricing strategy.
The price changes apply to Apple's existing lineup and come just hours after the company's latest product event, where it introduced several new devices.
iPhone Air gets the biggest price increase
The sharpest increase is on the 1TB iPhone Air, whose Indian price has risen by around 41% to ₹2,24,900.
In comparison, the equivalent US model increased by around 21% to $1,699. The difference has already triggered reactions among Indian consumers, with some questioning why the price gap between India and the US is so large.
Why are iPhone prices going up
Apple has previously pointed to rising costs for memory and storage chips as one factor behind its global price increases. Demand for these components has also been pushed higher by the rapid expansion of AI data centres.
India's prices are additionally affected by local taxes and import duties. The country charges an 18% GST, while import duties on components can also add to the final cost of Apple products.
Apple also launches its first foldable iPhone
The price increases come alongside Apple's biggest product announcements of the year. The company has introduced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, with a 7.6-inch internal display and a smaller outer screen.
The device starts at $1,999 and uses Apple's A20 Pro chip. Apple says the foldable design is aimed at giving users a larger, tablet-like display while keeping the device portable.
Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with both models receiving upgraded cameras and the new A20 Pro chip. The Pro models also start at higher prices than their predecessors in the US.
India becomes an increasingly important iPhone market
The price increase comes at an interesting time for Apple in India. The country has become one of Apple's fastest-growing markets and is also an important manufacturing base for iPhones.
However, local manufacturing does not completely shield Indian customers from global component costs, import duties and taxes. As a result, some Apple products continue to be considerably more expensive in India than in the US. For Indian buyers, the latest changes mean that choosing an older iPhone generation may not automatically mean getting a cheaper deal. With prices moving higher across parts of the existing lineup, shoppers may now need to compare the older models with the newly launched iPhones before deciding what offers the best value.
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