The fervor surrounding Apple’s iPhone 15 series remains unrelenting in India, as witnessed by the overwhelming response at Apple’s retail stores in BKC and Saket during the recent launch of the much-anticipated iPhone 15 series in the country.
Apple enthusiasts thronged these stores, eager to get their hands on the latest offerings. However, the escalating demand has led to extended wait times, with reports indicating that the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models are now backlogged until late October, as per a recent Reuters report.
Counterpoint data, as cited by Reuters, has forecasted that iPhone 15 Pro models are set to constitute 25% of the total iPhone 15 shipments in India during the fourth quarter. This marks a notable increase of 4% compared to the top-tier iPhone models from the previous year.
In terms of pricing, the iPhone 15 Pro lineup in India caters to a range of storage capacities:
- iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) – ₹1,34,900
- iPhone 15 Pro (256GB) – ₹1,44,900
- iPhone 15 Pro (512GB) – ₹1,64,900
- iPhone 15 Pro (1TB) – ₹1,84,900
The larger iPhone 15 Pro Max is available at the following price points:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) – ₹1,59,900
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (512GB) – ₹1,79,900
- iPhone 15 Pro Max (1TB) – ₹1,99,900
However, amidst the soaring demand, reports have surfaced of retailers capitalizing on the craze by charging significantly above the recommended retail prices (MRP). Network 18 Tech reported that retailers are adding premiums of up to ₹20,000 on the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max variants.
For instance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB variant in the attractive Natural Titanium color was found to be selling for approximately ₹20,000 above its MRP of ₹1,59,000. Similarly, a retailer in Maharashtra’s Thane has priced the iPhone 15 Pro Max 1TB variant at ₹32,000 above its MRP of ₹2,32,000.
The report also highlights that iPhone 15 Pro variants are not immune to this trend, with prices surpassing MRP by up to ₹5,000-6,000. A retailer in New Delhi’s Karol Bagh was reported to be selling the iPhone 15 Pro 256GB variant for ₹1,51,000, which is approximately ₹6,000 above the phone’s MRP.
Similarly, another retailer in Jaipur was found to be charging ₹8,000 over the MRP for the iPhone 15 Pro 256GB variant in the striking Blue Titanium color.
As the iPhone 15 series maintains its allure in India, it remains to be seen how the market dynamics will evolve and whether consumers will continue to embrace these premium devices despite the elevated prices set by some retailers.