Apple Raises iPhone 17, iPhone Air Prices in India

Apple has increased the prices of several existing iPhone models in India, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, and iPhone 16. This move breaks from the company's usual pattern of reducing the prices of older iPhone models after the launch of a new generation.

The price increase affects various storage variants of these models. The iPhone 17's 256GB variant now costs Rs. 99,900, up from Rs. 82,900, while the 512GB model has risen from Rs. 1,02,900 to Rs. 1,24,900.

Among the affected models, the iPhone Air has seen the largest increase. Its 256GB version now costs Rs. 1,49,900, up from Rs. 1,19,900, and the 512GB variant has gone from Rs. 1,39,900 to Rs. 1,74,900. The 1TB model has seen the sharpest rise, climbing from Rs. 1,59,900 to Rs. 2,24,900.

The iPhone 17e and iPhone 16 have also become more expensive. The iPhone 17e's 256GB variant now costs Rs. 79,900, compared to Rs. 64,900 earlier, and its 512GB version has increased from Rs. 84,900 to Rs. 1,04,900. The iPhone 16's 128GB model has also gone up, now priced at Rs. 89,900 against its earlier price of Rs. 69,900.

These price changes follow the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with the iPhone Duo, at Apple's September 9 event. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs. 1,64,900 in India, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at Rs. 1,79,900.

As a result, buyers looking to pick up an older iPhone at a reduced price following the new launch will instead find several existing models costing considerably more.

The report attributes the price increases to rising costs of memory chips and other key smartphone components, a pressure being felt across the technology industry as demand for advanced chips grows.

In June, Apple's then-chief executive Tim Cook said price increases had become unavoidable, adding that the company had tried to shield customers from rising costs but that the situation had become unsustainable.

Cook also said that tighter memory supply, combined with strong consumer demand, had led component makers to pass on significant price increases, and that pricing and supply for consumer products needed to return to more reasonable levels.

The price increase is likely to affect the purchasing decisions of many iPhone buyers in India, who may now have to consider other options or wait for a potential price drop in the future.

The move is seen as a significant shift in Apple's pricing strategy, and it will be interesting to see how the company's sales are affected by this change.

In conclusion, the price increase of iPhone models in India is a significant development that will have a considerable impact on the smartphone market in the country.

It remains to be seen how Apple's pricing strategy will evolve in the future, but for now, iPhone buyers in India will have to pay more for their desired models.