Apple did not announce the iPhone 18 base model this year [File]
| Photo Credit: AP
Apple has hiked the price of its iPhone 17 by more than 20% in India, following the reveal of its iPhone 18 line-up this year.The Apple iPhone 17 phone, which was launched at ₹82,900, now sells at ₹99,900. This is a massive hike of ₹17,000. Similarly, the iPhone Air now costs ₹1,49,900 when compared to the previous tag of ₹1,19,900; a ₹30,000 increase.The price increases came minutes after Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first ever foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, on Wednesday, during its September 9 ‘Surprise and Shine’ event.With new CEO John Ternus at the helm, the Cupertino-based company did not launch the iPhone 18’s base model or the successor of the iPhone Air.Now, it is expected that both the Apple iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air might be launched in the middle of 2027.To date, Apple’s iPhone 17 has been their best-selling model, worldwide, with the entire series generating over $170 billion in its first year of sales, noted Counterpoint.And with the absence of the iPhone 18 base model, buyers would again opt for the iPhone 17 base for their next purchase or upgrade.Apple has also discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max models.It was already expected that Apple would increase the iPhone prices post its Autumn launch, and the premium gadget-maker did not disappoint.Apple now joins the Android players who have been increasing their smartphone prices due to the memory crunch.The prices of Apple’s newest iPhone devices in India are also significantly higher than their U.S. counterparts, as has been the case for several years now.For context, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro was launched at ₹1,34,900 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max was launched at ₹1,49,900.Both models have jumped in price by around ₹30,000 this time around. Published - September 10, 2026 08:46 am IST
