Industry insiders report that India’s pre-orders for Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup have outstripped those of the iPhone 16 at the same stage, with the new series expected to contribute between 15 and 20 per cent of overall sales.
Analysts indicate that strong early demand signals a potentially strong Diwali quarter for Apple, despite limited availability of iPhone 17 Pro models.
Projections show that total iPhone shipments in India could top 5 million units during the July–September 2025 quarter.
For comparison, Apple shipped roughly 4 million iPhones in Q3 2024, with new models making up around 10 per cent of sales.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max variants are generating particularly high interest, raising the possibility of short supply in the initial launch weeks.
Even pre-orders for the base model with 256GB storage have surged, with ‘Cosmic Orange’ emerging as the most popular colour option.
The storage upgrade in the base variant to 256GB has made it more appealing than last year’s iPhone 16 launch, analysts added.
iPhone 17 Series Pricing and Availability
The iPhone 17 series goes on sale in India from today:
- iPhone 17 (256GB) – Rs 82,900
- iPhone Air – Rs 1,19,900
- iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) – Rs 1,34,900
- iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) – Rs 1,49,900
Retailers report that base models will be broadly accessible, but Pro and Pro Max shipments are limited to about 10 per cent of normal allocations, leading to secondary market premiums of 10–20 per cent.
Analysts also noted that the iPhone 16 was India’s best-selling model in the first half of 2025, driving a 96.50 per cent rise in the premium smartphone segment.
Apple has recently expanded its retail footprint in India with new stores in Bengaluru and Pune, reflecting the country’s growing importance.
Meanwhile, in Apple’s largest overseas market, China, sales increased just 4.4 per cent in the June quarter after two years of decline.
India is also becoming a key hub for Apple’s manufacturing, with one in every five iPhones now assembled domestically.
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