iPhone 18 Pro day-one sales rise 15–28% over prior model in surveyed Indian cities

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro posted day-one sales gains of 15–28% versus the iPhone 17 Pro across surveyed cities, according to Counterpoint data. Top retailers reported bookings for the Pro range up 40–50% year on year, with burgundy and higher-storage variants driving demand.

— Source publishedFri, 18 Sept, 2026, 23:16 IST·First seen Fri, 18 Sept, 2026, 23:23 IST·Source Business Standard · Companies

What happened

Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro day-one sales in surveyed Indian cities were 15-28% above the prior Pro model, while retailer bookings rose 40-50%. Burgundy and

Key facts

  • iPhone 18 Pro day-1 sales 15-28% higher than iPhone 17 Pro, depending on city
  • Top-retailer bookings for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max up 40-50% year-on-year
  • iPhone 18 Pro starts at ₹164,900
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at ₹179,900
  • Cashbacks and trade-ins range from ₹4,500 to ₹81,500
  • No-cost EMI monthly outgo ₹26,316
  • iPhone Duo price ₹299,000

Why this matters

The iPhone 18 Pro’s early traction reinforces India’s premium-device growth case, making premium retail, financing, trade-in and Apple-adjacent accessory partnerships more strategically attractive.

What to watch

  • Weekly conversion of bookings into completed deliveries and cancellation rates.
  • Stock availability and delivery lead times for burgundy and higher-storage Pro variants.
  • Pro mix versus base iPhone 18 mix, indicating whether premiumization is broadening or limited to launch enthusiasts.
  • Trade-in penetration, EMI/financing share and accessory attach rate versus the prior launch.
  • Sales momentum after the first two to four weeks, especially outside the surveyed metros.
  • Competitor promotional response from Samsung and other Android premium brands during the festive and post-launch period.
  • Increase allocation of Pro and high-storage SKUs to top-performing metro stores while monitoring stock-out risk by color and storage tier.
  • Bundle AppleCare, premium cases, chargers, AirPods and trade-in financing to capitalize on higher customer willingness to spend.
  • Use waitlist and reservation data to rebalance inventory between cities rather than applying broad Pro-model discounts.
  • Prepare targeted upgrade campaigns for iPhone 14–16 Pro users after launch-week demand, emphasizing trade-in values and storage upgrades.
  • Expand premium in-store demonstrations and concierge fulfillment in cities showing the strongest booking growth.