Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash
Apple used its September 9, 2026 "Surprise and Shine" event to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the brand's first book-style foldable, the iPhone Duo. For anyone in India who was already planning a phone upgrade, the launch is worth pausing on before you spend -- not because the new phones aren't good, but because of what a launch like this usually does, and doesn't do, to the price of last year's flagship.
What Actually Launched on September 9
According to TechCrunch's coverage of the event, the headline upgrade on the new Pro models is a reworked 48-megapixel main camera with a variable aperture built from six thin blades, alongside the usual chip and battery refinements. In the US, Apple priced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max about $100 above last year's starting points, with preorders opening within days of the announcement and general availability following shortly after. Apple hasn't published India-specific pricing in the coverage we've seen, but Indian pricing on new iPhones has historically tracked the US increase closely once import duties and taxes are added on top.
Why the iPhone 17 Might Not Get Cheaper as Fast as You'd Expect
Normally, a new iPhone launch pushes the outgoing model's price down as retailers clear stock and trade-in volumes rise. This year is different. TechRadar's analysis points out that the usual post-launch discount on the previous generation is a more complicated question this cycle, with component and memory cost pressure across the industry making retailers less willing to cut prices as aggressively as before. In practice, that means the "wait for the old model to get cheap" strategy that used to work well in India may deliver a smaller discount than buyers expect.
The Smarter India Play: Buy Unboxed, Skip the Launch-Day Markup
If new-in-box pricing on either the current or outgoing iPhone isn't dropping the way it used to, the more reliable way to save is to buy a unit that's already priced below retail. Browsing unboxed phones gets you an iPhone in like-new condition at a meaningful discount to the new-in-box price, without waiting on a launch-cycle discount that may or may not show up.
A few things worth knowing before you buy unboxed in India:
- Every unboxed phone from Get Like New carries a 6-month brand warranty, covering the window when most early hardware issues would surface.
- There's no change-of-mind return once you've bought -- but if a unit arrives with transit damage, it's covered through a defect remedy process, provided you've recorded an unboxing video.
- If you decide the phone isn't right for you after purchase, the buyback program lets you sell it back within 15 days for 80% of what you paid.
- Orders above Rs 5,000 ship free, with 1-2 business days of processing and 7-10 business days for delivery.
And if this launch cycle has you rethinking your whole setup rather than just your phone, the same price logic applies to laptops right now -- our unboxed laptops and refurbished laptops collections carry the same kind of below-retail pricing on machines that are barely a generation behind.
Bottom Line
A new iPhone launch used to be a reliable signal to wait a few weeks for the previous model to get cheaper. With component and memory costs pushing prices up industry-wide this year, that signal is weaker than usual. The more dependable way to save on an iPhone in India right now is to buy one that's already priced below new-in-box retail, backed by a real warranty and a clear buyback option if it doesn't work out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an unboxed iPhone come with a warranty in India?
Yes. Unboxed phones from Get Like New come with a 6-month brand warranty, which covers the period when most manufacturing-related issues would typically appear.
Can I return an unboxed iPhone if I change my mind?
No, change-of-mind returns aren't offered. Transit damage is handled separately through a defect remedy process, which requires an unboxing video as proof.
How does Get Like New's buyback program work?
If you decide the phone isn't the right fit after buying it, you can sell it back within 15 days of purchase for 80% of your original purchase price.
How long does delivery take, and is shipping free?
Orders above Rs 5,000 ship free. Processing takes 1-2 business days, and delivery typically takes 7-10 business days after that.
Will the iPhone 17 get significantly cheaper now that the iPhone 18 Pro is out?
Possibly, but likely by less than in past years. Industry-wide component and memory cost pressure is making retailers more cautious about discounting outgoing models, which is part of why buying unboxed tends to offer a more predictable saving.
