Apple’s latest iPhone 17 series is flying off the shelves in India, giving a big lift to the country’s ‘Make in India’ push. Vendors and industry experts say the iPhone 17 Air and standard iPhone 17 models are outselling last year’s iPhone 16 Plus and base models, as eager buyers snap them up during the festive season.
The tech giant looks set for its best-ever festive sales in India. Analysts predict a 28% jump in overall sales for 2025, fueled by the hot demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. Apple already hit a record $9 billion in annual sales here last year, thanks to growing disposable incomes and strong consumer interest in premium gadgets.
Early numbers back this up: The first week of iPhone 17 series sales beat the iPhone 16 series by 19%. “Apple is smartly tapping into India’s premium smartphone trend,” says Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint Research. He points out that the pricier iPhone 17 Air is pulling in more buyers than the previous Plus model.
With this momentum, Apple could ship over 4.5 million iPhones in India this festive quarter alone, and the sleek iPhone 17 Air is leading the charge.
In a market full of budget-friendly phones, premium options like these are thriving, says Prabhu Ram, VP at CMR’s Industry Research Group. “Rising incomes in the middle class are driving this growth, along with Apple’s rock-solid brand, more local manufacturing, and expanded retail presence,” he adds.
Prices for the new models start at Rs 82,900 for the 256GB iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Air kicks off at Rs 119,900 for the same storage, while the iPhone 17 Pro begins at Rs 134,900 and the Pro Max at Rs 149,900.
What makes the iPhone 17 Air stand out? It rocks a lightweight yet tough titanium build, with Ceramic Shield protection on the back and an upgraded front cover that’s three times more scratch-resistant than before—making it Apple’s most durable iPhone yet. The 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion delivers smooth scrolling and vibrant visuals. Power comes from Apple’s custom A19 Pro chip, plus N1 and C1X components, for top efficiency. On the camera front, a 48MP Fusion main sensor acts like four lenses in one for stunning shots, and the 18MP Center Stage selfie camera takes your portraits to new heights.
The base iPhone 17 shines too, with that same innovative Center Stage front camera, a 48MP Fusion main with 2x optical zoom, and a new 48MP Ultra Wide for detailed wide shots and macro magic. Its 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display is bigger and brighter with ProMotion for fluid gaming and everyday use, all powered by the speedy A19 chip for better battery life and performance.
India’s role in Apple’s global plans is growing fast—one in every five iPhones now gets made right here, boosting local jobs and the ‘Make in India’ vibe.
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