Apple's freshly released iPhone 17 series has seen a robust wave of demand in India, with industry observers pointing out that pre-bookings have already exceeded last year's.
The robust response is when Apple continues to expand its "Made in India" strategy, boosting local production as well as its retail presence in major cities.
Pre-bookings of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, which had started on September 12, have remained active on Apple's official portal as well as in its retail stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru. The newly launched iPhone 17 Air has also impressed Indian consumers with its titanium construction that balances slimness with strength.
India has emerged as the focus of Apple's global ambition, not only as a expanding market for consumers but also as a crucial hub for manufacturing. The firm recently opened two more stores in Bengaluru and Pune, strategically timed before the launch of the iPhone 17.
Apple entered India's direct retail market in April 2023 with the opening of its flagship Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) store in Mumbai, followed by Apple Saket in Delhi. In their first year, the two stores generated sales of about ₹800 crore, among Apple's highest-performing stores globally. Interestingly, almost 60% of that came from the smaller Delhi store—highlighting the power of the brand's urban consumer base.
This victory was achieved against the backdrop of Apple's highly established ecosystem of high-end resellers and robust e-commerce partnerships with Flipkart and Amazon.
The new iPhone series starts at ₹82,900 for the 256GB iPhone 17. The thinner and more high-end iPhone 17 Air costs ₹1,19,900, while the iPhone 17 Pro begins at ₹1,34,900. The flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) stands at ₹1,49,900.
This year's release also signals the initial price change at the starting level since the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020. The increased pricing is, however, balanced by more value—Apple has doubled the minimum storage to 256GB. On a like-for-like basis, the iPhone 17 is actually ₹7,000 less than the iPhone 16's 256GB model at launch.
Read also| Apple’s India Shipments Poised to Reach Record 14–15 Million Units This Year
