Why iPhones just got much more expensive in India
What's the story
Apple has sharply raised iPhone prices in India, with some older models now costing up to ₹65,000 more. The increases come just as Apple launches its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, and new iPhone 18 Pro models. While prices have also risen in the US, the impact is considerably steeper in India, despite the country being a major hub for iPhone assembly. The move highlights how soaring memory-chip costs, fueled by AI data-center boom, are increasingly reaching everyday consumers.
New launches
New iPhone 18 Pro models start at ₹1.65 lakh
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900 in India, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at ₹1,79,900.
In the US, they begin at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively, representing a $100 increase over last year's Pro models.
The higher prices are not solely linked to memory costs, however. The new iPhones also feature upgraded hardware, including Apple's A20 Pro chip and a variable-aperture main camera.
Foldable iPhone
Apple's first foldable iPhone costs ₹2.99 lakh
Apple has also entered the foldable-phone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone.
Starting at $1,999 in the US and ₹2,99,900 in India, it is now Apple's most expensive iPhone.
The top-end 2TB version costs $3,200 in the US and ₹4,49,900 in India.
That puts it well above Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8, which starts at $1,900 in the US and ₹1,79,999 in India.
Old models
Older iPhones are also getting a major price hike
The biggest shock is not limited to Apple's newest devices.
The company has raised prices on older iPhones still sold in India, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, and iPhone Air.
The 1TB iPhone Air has seen the sharpest jump, becoming ₹65,000 more expensive, or roughly 41%. The base iPhone 17 is now nearly 21% (or ₹17,000) costlier.
In the US, older iPhones received comparatively smaller $100 increases.
Scenario
AI data centers are making memory more expensive
Behind the price increases is a growing memory shortage across the technology industry.
AI data centers are consuming enormous amounts of DRAM, NAND and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), prompting chipmakers to redirect production capacity toward servers. That leaves less supply for consumer electronics.
TrendForce expects the structural shortage to persist as AI-server demand continues rising.
Memory inventories are also at historically low levels, creating sustained pressure on manufacturers of phones, PCs, and other devices.
Focus
India is feeling the price shock more sharply
The global memory crunch does not fully explain why Indian buyers are taking a bigger hit.
Apple's Indian prices also reflect factors such as import duties and the 18% GST.
Reuters reported that Apple's increases in India are among its steepest across markets where prices have been adjusted this year.
Older iPhones are especially revealing because their hardware has not changed since launch, making their higher prices a clearer sign of rising component and market costs.
Uncertainty
The iPhone price pressure may last for years
Apple does not reveal the manufacturing cost of each iPhone, so it is impossible to say exactly how much of the increase comes from memory. But the pressure is spreading.
Xbox has raised console prices, while PC makers are selling fewer machines at higher prices amid the same memory squeeze.
TrendForce expects elevated memory prices into 2027, while SK Hynix expects the shortage to persist for years.
Apple may have one advantage, and that's the company's unusually loyal customer base.