Apple's iPhone 17 series pre-orders in India have also exceeded those for the iPhone 16, during their respective launch time, and industry experts estimate the new range will account for 15–20 per cent of overall sales.
The pre-booking trends are said to indicate a strong Diwali quarter for Apple despite the low availability of the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Statistics indicate that total iPhone shipments in India during the July–September 2025 quarter are likely to be more than 5 million units. Apple shipped around 4 million iPhones during Q3 2024, with the new models contributing to about 10 per cent of the number.
Demand for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max is specifically strong, bringing the risk of supply constraints in the first few weeks after launch. Pre-bookings for the standard model, upgraded this time to 256GB storage, have been good, with the 'Cosmic Orange' version proving to be most sought after. Analysts said that the upgrade in storage value adds to the base model's proposition over last year.
iPhone 17 series hits Indian shelves today. Apple's new ones start at Rs 82,900 for the iPhone 17 (256GB). The thinner iPhone 17 Air begins at Rs 1,19,900, and the iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) starts at Rs 1,34,900. The flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) is available for Rs 1,49,900.
Retailers say although the base version will be in abundance, Pro and Pro Max versions are scarce, making up just about 10 per cent of regular deliveries. This shortage has resulted in black-market premiums of between 10 and 20 per cent.
Observers noted that the iPhone 16 had been India's top-selling model for H1 2025, powering a 96.5 per cent increase in the premium smartphone segment.
Apple has also increased its retail presence in India with two new stores opening in Bengaluru and Pune, making the country all the more significant as a major market. In Apple's biggest international market, China, meanwhile, sales only rose 4.4 per cent in the June quarter after two straight years of contraction.
India is becoming more pivotal to Apple's manufacturing plans, with one in five iPhones manufactured locally.
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