Apple’s reported India launch of iPhone 18 range flags a premium retail push

An Economic Times report says Apple has begun India sales of iPhone 18 Pro models, AirPods 5 and new Watches, with a foldable iPhone Duo slated for October. The products and 2026 launch timeline could not be independently verified.

— Source publishedFri, 18 Sept, 2026, 08:54 IST·First seen Fri, 18 Sept, 2026, 09:04 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Apple began Indian sales of iPhone 18 Pro models, AirPods 5 and Watch Series 12/Ultra 4, drawing launch-day queues in several cities. Its foldable iPhone Duo

Key facts

  • iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900 (256GB)
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,79,900 (256GB)
  • iPhone Duo priced at Rs 2,99,900
  • iPhone Duo financing from Rs 48,817 per month
  • iPhone 18 Pro storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB
  • iPhone Duo has 7.6-inch inner and 5.4-inch outer displays
  • AirPods 5 claims up to 50% more outside-noise reduction than AirPods 4 ANC
  • Apple Watch Series 12 battery life up to 24 hours
  • Apple Watch Ultra 4 battery life up to 50 hours

Why this matters

The signal could point to expanding premium-device ecosystem demand in India, but partnership, distribution or acquisition implications should wait for independent confirmation.