Older iPhones Set to Get Costlier in India as Apple Withdraws Key Retail Support (iPhone price increase India)
Price Hike Likely as Retail Incentives Are Rolled Back
Buying an older iPhone in India is set to become more expensive with popular models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 expected to see an effective price increase of around ₹5,000.
The development comes as Apple plans to withdraw its demand generation (DG) support provided to retailers and channel partners a move that has so far helped keep device prices competitive in the market.
DG support, commonly used across the smartphone industry, allows brands to offer backend incentives to retailers. This enables sellers to provide discounts without officially reducing the maximum retail price (MRP).
With this support now being discontinued, retailers will no longer be able to extend similar price benefits to customers, resulting in a higher final purchase cost.
The impact is expected to be immediate with several retailers indicating that current offers may soon disappear. For buyers who have been waiting for price drops on slightly older iPhone models the window to secure lower prices is quickly closing.
Market Impact and Broader Industry Trends
This move follows an earlier reduction in cashback offers on iPhones which were cut significantly in recent months. Together, these changes have made Apple’s lineup relatively more expensive for Indian consumers, especially in the mid premium segment where older models tend to attract strong demand.
Industry sources clarify that the withdrawal of DG support applies only to older or sustaining models and does not affect the latest iPhone lineup.
Importantly, there has been no official change in MRP and pricing adjustments through discounts remain at the company’s discretion.
Despite the expected price increase demand for iPhones in India is unlikely to drop sharply in the short term. A large portion of smartphone purchases in the country is driven by easy monthly instalment (EMI) options which help offset the burden of higher upfront costs.
The development also aligns with a broader trend across the smartphone industry where brands have been steadily increasing prices due to rising component costs, particularly for memory and storage.
As manufacturers focus on maintaining profitability, pricing pressures are expected to continue.
Looking ahead, India’s smartphone market faces a challenging year with supply constraints, currency fluctuations and cost pressures likely to impact overall growth. However, Apple’s iPhone portfolio is expected to remain relatively resilient compared to the wider market.
