Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro launch draws overnight queues at Mumbai store

Apple opened its Mumbai store at 8 am for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max sales after buyers queued overnight. The flagship range is priced from ₹1.65 lakh to ₹3.30 lakh, signalling sustained launch-day demand at the premium end of India’s smartphone market.

— Source publishedFri, 18 Sept, 2026, 13:03 IST·First seen Fri, 18 Sept, 2026, 13:49 IST·Source Business Today · Latest

What happened

Apple’s Mumbai store saw overnight queues and an 8 am opening for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max sales. Premium models are priced from ₹1.65 lakh to ₹3.30 lakh, with

Key facts

  • iPhone 18 Pro: ₹1,64,900 for 256GB to ₹3,14,900 for 2TB
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max: ₹1,79,900 for 256GB to ₹3,29,900 for 2TB
  • ₹25,000 gap between comparable Pro and Pro Max variants
  • Buyer arrived around 10 pm for an 8 am store opening

Why this matters

The physical-store pull strengthens the strategic value of Apple’s direct retail expansion and creates partnership opportunities across financing, trade-ins, accessories and premium mall locations.

What to watch

  • Weekend sell-through and replenishment frequency at Mumbai Apple Store and key authorised resellers.
  • Waiting times, online delivery estimates and stock-outs by Pro versus Pro Max and storage variant.
  • Share of transactions using EMI, trade-in and bank promotions.
  • Footfall and sales changes at nearby mall tenants, cafes and premium electronics retailers.
  • Post-launch resale premiums and grey-market inventory, which can distinguish genuine consumer demand from speculative buying.
  • Increase premium accessory, case, charger, AirPods and AppleCare inventory near Apple retail locations and authorised resellers.
  • Coordinate bank-card EMI, exchange and upgrade messaging to capture high-ticket conversion without relying on upfront discounts.
  • Staff mall and adjacent food-and-beverage outlets for launch-weekend traffic spikes, especially morning and evening queue periods.
  • Track whether Pro Max mix, financing penetration and accessory attach rates exceed prior iPhone launch benchmarks.