Samsung, Apple and Google prior-gen flagships emerge as value buys in India

A deal roundup spotlights Samsung Galaxy S25 at Rs 59,999, iPhone 16 at Rs 68,900 and Pixel 10 at Rs 74,999, as buyers weigh discounted flagship devices against rising prices for newer premium launches.

— Source published Wed, 19 Aug, 2026, 09:43 IST · First seen Wed, 19 Aug, 2026, 10:09 IST · Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

Indian consumer-tech deal roundup highlights discounted prior-generation flagship smartphones, led by Samsung models, alongside Apple iPhone 16 and Google Pixel

Key facts

  • Samsung Galaxy S25: Rs 59,999
  • Apple iPhone 16: Rs 68,900
  • Google Pixel 10: Rs 74,999
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Rs 93,899
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Rs 1,74,999
  • Galaxy Z Fold 8 starting price: Rs 1.79 lakh
  • Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra price: Rs 2 lakh

Why this matters

Expanded carrier, bank and trade-in partnerships around discounted prior-gen flagships could help brands and retailers monetize upgrade demand without relying solely on new-model launches.

What to watch

  • Price gap between current and prior-generation flagships crossing 25% after bank and exchange offers.
  • Marketplace inventory days and stock-out rates for Galaxy S25, iPhone 16 and Pixel 10.
  • Festive-sale promotional calendars, card-cashback announcements and exclusive online retail partnerships.
  • New flagship launch pricing in India and whether launch-period offers begin earlier than in the prior cycle.
  • Premium smartphone sell-through mix between current-generation and prior-generation devices.
  • Trade-in values and no-cost EMI penetration, which can soften or amplify effective discounting.
  • Merchandise prior-gen flagships as 'premium value' bundles with bank offers, no-cost EMI, exchange bonuses and accessories rather than relying on deeper headline discounts.
  • Separate current-generation launches through AI features, camera upgrades, extended software support and exclusive color/storage variants to reduce direct price comparison.
  • Track gross-margin dilution by model and retailer; prioritize inventory liquidation on SKUs with the weakest sell-through before the next flagship cycle.
  • Use trade-in offers to capture upgraders without permanently lowering list prices, especially for Apple and Samsung premium devices.
  • Increase attachment offers for wearables, protection plans and accessories to offset lower handset margins.