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Journalism of Courage
Apple is currently bullish on India and is doubling down on its efforts to onboard more users to its ecosystem with the iPhone being the centrepiece of the puzzle. Although the Cupertino giant witnessed a decline in iPhone sales globally this year, India has been an exception where the demand for the iPhone continues to rise.
Apple’s first iPhone never made its way to India, in fact, only a few countries like the USA got to experience it. The landscape soon changed, and Apple introduced its second iPhone 3 in 2008, a 3G network capable smartphone in collaboration with Airtel in the country and the base model with 8 GB of storage was priced at Rs 31,000.
Similarly, the company also brought in the iPhone 3GS to India, which now offered double the storage and was priced at Rs 35,000. Again, this was also launched in partnership with Bharti Airtel in the country.
| Model name and storage | Launch date |
Price in India (in Rupees)
|
| iPhone 3G (8 GB) | August 2008 | 31,000 |
| iPhone 3GS (16 GB) | March 2010 | 35,000 |
| iPhone 4 (16 GB) | May 2011 | 34,500 |
| iPhone 4s (16 GB) | November 2011 | 44,500 |
| iPhone 5 (16 GB) | October 2012 | 45,500 |
| iPhone 5c (16 GB) | November 2013 | 41,900 |
| iPhone 5s (16 GB) | November 2013 | 53,500 |
| iPhone 6 (16 GB) | October 2014 | 53,500 |
| iPhone 6 Plus (16 GB) | October 2014 | 62,500 |
| iPhone 6s (16 GB) | October 2015 | 62,000 |
| iPhone 6s Plus (16 GB) | October 2015 | 72,000 |
| iPhone SE 1st Gen (16 GB) | April 2016 | 39,000 |
| iPhone 7 (32 GB) | October 2016 | 60,000 |
| iPhone 7 Plus (32 GB) | October 2016 | 72,000 |
| iPhone 8 (64 GB) | September 2017 | 64,000 |
| iPhone 8 Plus (64 GB) | September 2017 | 73,000 |
| iPhone X (64 GB) | November 2017 | 89,000 |
| iPhone Xs (64 GB) | September 2018 | 99,900 |
| iPhone Xs Max (64 GB) | September 2018 | 1,09,900 |
| iPhone Xr (64 GB) | October 2018 | 76,900 |
| iPhone SE 2nd Gen (64 GB) | April 2019 | 42,500 |
| iPhone 11 (64 GB) | September 2019 | 64,900 |
| iPhone 11 Pro (64 GB) | September 2019 | 99,900 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max (64 GB) | September 2019 | 1,09,900 |
| iPhone 12 mini (64 GB) | October 2020 | 69,900 |
| iPhone 12 (64 GB) | October 2020 | 79,900 |
| iPhone 12 Pro (64 GB) | October 2020 | 119,900 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (64 GB) | October 2020 | 129,000 |
| iPhone 13 mini (128 GB) | September 2021 | 69,900 |
| iPhone 13 (128 GB) | September 2021 | 79,900 |
| iPhone 13 Pro (128 GB) | September 2021 | 119,900 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max (128 GB) | September 2021 | 129,000 |
| iPhone SE 3rd Gen (64 GB) | March 2022 | 43,900 |
| iPhone 14 (128 GB) | September 2022 | 79,900 |
| iPhone 14 Plus (128 GB) | October 2022 | 89,900 |
| iPhone 14 Pro (128 GB) | September 2022 | 129,900 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max (128 GB) | September 2022 | 139,900 |
While there was no substantial price increase between the iPhone 3Gs and the iPhone 4, which was introduced in early 2011 for Rs 34,500, the iPhone 4s, which was launched in November 2011 came with a price tag of Rs 44,500 with over 30 per cent price hike over its predecessor.
The iPhone 5 series was again priced similar to the iPhone 4s (review), where, the base variant of the iPhone 5 launched in October 2012 was priced at Rs 45,500. In October 2013, Apple introduced two models — iPhone 5c, priced at Rs 41,900 and the iPhone 5s for Rs 53,900.
In October 2014, Apple introduced two iPhones — the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, priced at Rs 53,500, and Rs 62,500, respectively. This is the first time Apple introduced the same iPhone in two different sizes to attract newer audiences who seek a larger iPhone, whereas, the iPhone 6 Plus was the biggest iPhone that the company ever produced until 2017.
The iPhone 6s (review) and the iPhone 6s Plus launched in 2015 also received a price hike, which came with a starting price of Rs 62,000, and Rs 72,000 respectively. In April 2016, Apple introduced the 1st Gen iPhone SE, based on the iPhone 5s for just Rs 39,000 to cater to people who seek smaller and affordable iPhones.
Starting with the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, which launched in 2016, Apple increased the base variant storage from 16 GB to 32 GB with no major price hike when compared to their predecessor. In 2017, Apple launched three iPhones, where, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus with 64 GB of storage came with a price tag of Rs 64,000, and Rs 73,000, respectively.
Along with these two models, Apple introduced the truly next-generation iPhone X with a 5.8-inch (the biggest on an iPhone at the time of launch) edge-to-edge bezel-less screen and Face ID system that replaced Touch ID for a whopping Rs 89,900.
As the company continues to transition towards the new design language, in 2018, Apple introduced three models, the iPhone Xr, an affordable modern iPhone priced at Rs 76,900 along with the two flagship models — iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max, priced at Rs 99,000 and Rs 109,000, respectively, this makes the iPhone Xs Max, the first base variant iPhone to cost over a lakh in India.
The following year, the iPhone 11 series was launched, with the iPhone 11 being the most affordable of the lot, priced at Rs 64,900. Similarly, for the first time, Apple announced two “Pro” iPhones — iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max, priced at Rs 99,900, and Rs 109,900, respectively. In the same year, Apple also released the 2nd Gen iPhone SE with upgraded specifications for Rs 42,500.
In 2020, Apple announced its first set of 5G capable iPhone 12 series, which introduced a new design with the launch of the compact “iPhone 12 mini,” priced at Rs 69,900 along with the regular-sized iPhone 12 for Rs 79,900. The iPhone 12 Pro (review) and the iPhone 12 Pro Max carried a price tag of Rs 119,900 and Rs 129,900, respectively.
In 2021, Apple kept the same four models theme and announced the iPhone 13 series, priced identical to the iPhone 12 series. However, this time around, Apple bumped the base model storage from 64 GB to 128 GB on all four models. In early 2022, Apple introduced the iPhone SE 3rd Gen for Rs 43,900, which became the most affordable 5G iPhone at launch.
Last year, Apple launched four iPhones but the lineup looked a bit different. While there was the regular iPhone 14, priced at Rs 79,900, the mini was replaced by the iPhone 14 Plus with a large 6.7-inch display, which was priced at Rs 89,900.
Similarly, the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max (review) replaced the notch with a Dynamic Island and carried a price tag of Rs 129,900, and Rs 139,900, respectively.
