Moneycontrol reported that Indian retailers saw iPhone sales drop by as much as 30% around Dussehra, while earlier shipment data do not show how many phones consumers bought.
Its Oct. 27 story linked the reported decline to higher prices, fewer promotions and longer replacement cycles. It gave no respondent count, locations or comparison period, so the estimate does not establish a nationwide change in retail purchases.
Apple set Indian starting prices of ₹164,900 for the iPhone 18 Pro and ₹179,900 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Its India online store advertised up to ₹7,000 in cashback on selected iPhones and no-cost monthly installments for up to 12 months with eligible cards under terms running Oct. 11-Nov. 11. The offers show that promotions remained available through Apple’s online channel, but do not establish how discounts at other retailers compared with 2025.
Omdia estimated Apple shipped 3.9 million smartphones into India during July-September, before the reported retail slowdown. Across brands, smartphone shipments in India totaled 35.8 million, down 26% from a year earlier. Omdia said Apple’s volume benefited from retailers ordering stock ahead of expected price increases and sustained demand for the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 models. The later Diwali calendar moved a significant share of offline festive stock preparation from September into October, the firm said. These figures track shipments into distribution, not consumer purchases at stores.
Moneycontrol also reported that retailers and distributors were left with stock moving more slowly than expected after preparing for the festive period. It said currency exposure led some traders to delay sales of inventory bought at less favorable exchange rates.
International Data Corporation (IDC) reported that Apple shipped 14 million iPhones in India in 2025, up 16% from 2024. The company held 10% of smartphone shipments and 29% of market value that year. In the first quarter of 2026, average smartphone selling prices rose 10.4% year over year to a record $302, while shipments fell 4.1% to 31 million units. IDC cited memory costs and higher prices as pressures on demand.
As an inference, higher prices may be weighing on some festive sales, based on retailer feedback and IDC’s pricing data. The available figures do not establish whether demand for Apple’s premium phones has weakened across India.
