The iPhone 17 price hike has surprised Indian buyers as Apple has increased the prices of several existing iPhone models after launching its latest premium lineup.
Instead of becoming cheaper after the new launch, some models are now significantly more expensive.
Apple has launched the foldable iPhone Duo alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Usually, older iPhone models see price cuts when a new generation arrives, but Apple has taken a different approach this time in India.
iPhone 17 Price Hike Raises Cost by ₹17,000
The iPhone 17 was launched in India last year with a starting price of ₹82,900. Its starting price has now increased to ₹99,900, meaning buyers will have to pay ₹17,000 more for the same model.
The price revision comes at a time when customers would normally expect the previous-generation iPhone to become more affordable after the arrival of newer models.
The increase could affect buyers who were waiting for the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro series before purchasing an older iPhone at a lower price.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e Also Get Costlier
Apple has also increased the prices of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e in India.
The iPhone 16 was launched with a starting price of ₹79,900. Its starting price has now increased to ₹89,900, making it ₹10,000 more expensive than before.
The iPhone 17e has also become costlier. Its starting price has increased from ₹64,900 to ₹79,900, which is a ₹15,000 increase.
The iPhone Air has seen the biggest price jump among the models mentioned. Its starting price has increased from ₹1,19,900 to ₹1,49,900, making it ₹30,000 more expensive.
Why Apple Increased iPhone Prices
Reports attribute the price increases to higher global memory chip and component costs. Growing demand from AI data centres is also putting pressure on memory chip prices.
These factors can increase the cost of components used in smartphones, which can eventually affect retail prices.
For buyers, the iPhone 17 price hike means that waiting for the new-generation launch has not resulted in the expected reduction in the official price.
iPhone 18 Pro Prices in India
Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro with a starting price of ₹1,64,900 in India. The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at ₹1,79,900.
Both premium models come with the new A20 Pro chipset, along with improvements in the camera and battery. They also include AI-enabled features.
Pre-orders for the new models in India will begin on September 12, while sales are expected to start on September 18.
Apple did not introduce the base iPhone 18 at its September launch event. Instead, the company focused on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and foldable iPhone Duo.
Reports suggest that the standard iPhone 18 could be introduced later, possibly in early 2027.
Buyers May Still Get Discounts
The higher official prices could disappoint customers who were hoping to buy the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 at a lower price before the festive season.
However, online retailers and e-commerce platforms may offer bank discounts, exchange bonuses and other deals.
Such offers could reduce the effective purchase price of these models compared with Apple’s official pricing.
For customers planning to buy an older iPhone, comparing retailer offers with Apple’s official prices could therefore become more important after the latest price revisions.
