Higher Prices Are Paradoxically Boosting iPhone 18 Pro Sales in India
Apple
Toggle Dark Mode
Several industry analysts have predicted that higher iPhone prices and the lack of a base model iPhone 18 this fall would hurt iPhone sales. While that may be true in many areas of the world, it seems it’s having the reverse effect for smartphone customers in India.
A new CNBC report reveals that Indian consumers are treating higher iPhone prices as if it were “Opposites Day,” as Apple’s share of the Indian smartphone market continues to grow. The availability of installment plans for the new line is also reportedly driving sales.
Experts say demand for the latest iPhone is nearly 20% stronger than for last year’s iPhone 17 at the same point in 2025. They added that if this trend continues, Apple’s market share in India will soon reach double digits for the first time ever.
“Apple’s volume market share is likely to hit 10% in 2026, reaching double digits in a single calendar year for the first time, up from 4% in 2022,” said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.
The new models were released in India on September 18, and many customers traveled for several hours to major cities to purchase their prized new handsets at Apple Stores, including Apple BKC in Mumbai. Once they arrived, they faced a wait in line for up to ten hours before completing their purchase.
While demand for any new smartphone is usually driven by outstanding new features, Indian customers say that’s not the reason behind the demand for the device in their country.
Instead, the iPhone 18 Pro’s higher price tag has positioned it as a premium status symbol. While this “premiumization” trend isn’t limited to smartphones, it’s certainly helping handsets fly out the doors of Apple Stores.
Apple is also offering several new financing options, which certainly isn’t hurting sales. While the base model iPhone 18 Pro costs the equivalent of $1,700 in India, zero-interest payment programs allowing buyers to pay under 10% per month for a year make the flagship much more attractive.
While Apple’s Indian sales did drop in the June quarter, that was reportedly due to supply constraints. Other than that blip on the radar, the US company’s sales in India have been on the rise for four years.
However, other smartphone makers haven’t been so lucky, particularly those companies that specialize in selling entry-level smartphones. The report says sales have dropped all through 2026, although no exact figures were provided.
We probably can’t expect the iPhone to continue benefiting indefinitely from its “cool” factor, as it’s unclear how long the zero-percent financing offers will last. Plus, Indian consumers are no different from buyers elsewhere — there’s always a new hot thing on the horizon that could steal the spotlight from the iPhone.
One factor that may prolong the iPhone’s stay in the catbird seat is the potential arrival of Apple Pay in India. While the contactless payment service will likely be restricted to a few select banks at launch, that exclusivity could further solidify the iPhone’s status symbol appeal.
