Apple's next iPhone event, titled "Surprise and shine", is on 9 September 2026 at 10:30 PM IST. Reports point to three phones on stage: the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple's first foldable iPhone, with the standard iPhone 18 pushed to early 2027. Indian estimates put the 18 Pro at ₹1.35 to ₹1.40 lakh, the Pro Max at ₹1.55 lakh and above, and the foldable at ₹1.9 to ₹2.1 lakh; Apple has confirmed none of these. Pre-orders are reported for 12 September, and if Apple repeats last year, Indian deliveries follow about a week later. Today the iPhone 17 series is on BytePe from ₹3,937 a month, and new iPhones join the catalog as they reach Indian retail.
Update, 10 September 2026: Apple has now announced. The iPhone 18 Pro is ₹1,64,900 and the Pro Max ₹1,79,900 in India, and the foldable is called iPhone Duo at ₹2,99,900, so the estimates below are superseded. Read our recap of the 9 September event for the announced prices, the booking dates and what changed.
What Apple has confirmed, and what is still a report
Apple sent invites on 26 August for a 9 September event, its usual two-week lead. The event starts at 10 a.m. Pacific, which is 10:30 PM in India, so most Indian buyers will watch it late on a Wednesday night. It is the first iPhone launch under CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on 1 September. That is the full list of what is official. Everything below the line is reporting from supply-chain analysts, retail leaks and Indian tech press, and we label it as such throughout.
| Option | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Event on 9 September 2026, 10:30 PM IST | Confirmed | Apple Events page, Apple developer news |
| iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max unveiled at the event | Reported | NDTV Profit, TrendForce, 91mobiles |
| First foldable iPhone (reported as iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra) | Reported | PhoneArena, Times of India, TrendForce |
| Standard iPhone 18 delayed to early 2027 | Reported | NDTV Profit; supplier Pegatron on its June earnings call (MacRumors) |
| India prices for any iPhone 18 model | Estimates only | Firstpost, Times of India |
| India pre-order date 12 September | Reported | 91mobiles |
iPhone 18 launch date in India: event, pre-orders and delivery
India was in Apple's first wave last year, so the useful question is not whether the iPhone 18 comes to India but how many days after the event you can hold one. Last year is the best guide. Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro on 9 September 2025, opened Indian pre-orders on Friday 12 September at 5:30 PM IST, and delivered from Friday 19 September, with India among the 63 first-wave regions.
| Option | iPhone 17 (2025, actual) | iPhone 18 (2026, expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple event | Tuesday 9 September, 10:30 PM IST | Wednesday 9 September, 10:30 PM IST (confirmed) |
| India pre-orders open | Friday 12 September, 5:30 PM IST | Saturday 12 September, around 12:30 PM IST (reported by 91mobiles) |
| Deliveries and store sale in India | Friday 19 September | Around 19 September if the seven-day gap holds (not announced) |
| Standard model | iPhone 17 launched with the Pros | iPhone 18 reported for early 2027 |
Two things are different this year. The pre-order day is reported as a Saturday rather than Apple's usual Friday, which puts the Indian opening around lunchtime instead of the evening. And the foldable may open pre-orders later than the Pro models, so if that is the one you want, expect a separate date.
Expected iPhone 18 price in India
Apple India's prices are set at launch and rarely move for a year: every iPhone 17 model still sells on apple.com/in at its September 2025 price today. That makes the iPhone 17 the right ruler for the iPhone 18. Here is what Indian and international reporting expects, next to what each model's predecessor actually costs right now.
| Option | iPhone 17 series, India price today | Expected iPhone 18 India price (reports) | What is driving it |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) | ₹1,34,900 (iPhone 17 Pro) | ₹1.35 to ₹1.40 lakh | Firstpost estimates ₹1,39,900; Times of India says around ₹1.34 lakh |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB) | ₹1,49,900 (iPhone 17 Pro Max) | ₹1.55 to ₹1.60 lakh, some reports up to ₹1.70 lakh | Firstpost estimates up to ₹1,59,900; a retail leak puts it about 11% above the 17 Pro Max |
| Foldable iPhone | No predecessor | ₹1.9 to ₹2.1 lakh, top variants above ₹2.3 lakh | Firstpost's India estimate, built on TrendForce's cost analysis |
| iPhone 18 (standard) | ₹82,900 (iPhone 17, 256GB) | Not expected until early 2027 | Split launch reported by NDTV Profit and confirmed indirectly by supplier Pegatron |
The number behind every price story this year is memory. TrendForce reported on 3 September that the memory bill for a 256GB iPhone 18 Pro is nearly 400% higher than a year ago, and it projects retail prices 10 to 20% higher as a result. That is a component cost, not a price rise of 400%: a retail leak from Egypt puts the 18 Pro about 10% and the Pro Max about 11% above their iPhone 17 equivalents, which in Indian terms is roughly ₹13,000 to ₹17,000 more. Apple raised iPad and Mac prices in June on the same cost pressure and left iPhone prices alone, which is why most reports expect the increase to land with the new model rather than on the iPhone 17.
The Indian estimates disagree with each other by about ₹5,000 on the 18 Pro, and that is the honest state of things until Apple publishes the price on 9 September night. Treat the ranges above as the planning number, and read the official list at apple.com/in once it updates.
What is expected to be new in the iPhone 18 Pro
A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process. Reported by Gadgets360, with up to 12GB of RAM, which is the memory that drives the cost story above.
Apple's own C2 modem outside the US. Indian units are expected to ship with Apple's C2 modem, while US units reportedly keep Qualcomm for mmWave. Apple has not published the iPhone 18's 5G band list; for reference, the iPhone 17 Pro India models support n1, n3, n5, n8, n28, n40, n41, n77 and n78, which covers Jio and Airtel's 5G networks.
A foldable iPhone. Apple's first, reported under two names, iPhone Fold and iPhone Ultra. It is the most expensive iPhone ever expected in India and may reach shelves after the Pro models.
Camera and display changes on the Pro models. Reported but unspecific. We will update this section with Apple's spec sheet after the event rather than repeat rumours.
Where to buy the iPhone 18 in India
New iPhones reach India through four routes at once: Apple's own online store and app, Apple's retail stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune, Apple Authorised Resellers such as Croma, Reliance Digital and Imagine, and the large marketplaces. Pre-order stock is allocated by time of order, so the Pro Max and the foldable in the most popular colour usually slip to a later delivery week within days.
Apple India's own offers on the iPhone 17 today are a useful preview: up to six months of no-cost EMI on select cards, up to ₹5,000 instant cashback on select cards, and trade-in credit for your old phone. Bank offers on a new iPhone are typically announced with the pre-order date, so check the fine print on the card, the tenure and whether GST on interest is passed to you.
What the iPhone 17 series costs on BytePe today
While the iPhone 18 is still a rumour, the iPhone 17 series is in stock on BytePe at below Apple's MRP, on EMI or on a subscription. These are the live figures from BytePe's product pages on 4 September 2026; colour and storage variants differ by a few hundred rupees, so check the page for the exact model you want.
| Option | Apple India MRP | BytePe upfront price | EMI on BytePe |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 (256GB) | ₹82,900 | ₹80,400 (3% off) | from ₹3,937 a month |
| iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) | ₹1,34,900 | ₹1,20,900 (10% off) | from ₹5,920 a month |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) | ₹1,49,900 | ₹1,34,900 (10% off) | from ₹6,605 a month |
Subscription: a new device every year with device protection included, on the BytePe subscription. NDTV Profit reported the iPhone 17 subscription at as low as ₹3,799 a month in October 2025; the exact monthly figure shows on the product page after a quick eligibility check.
EMI without a credit card: the BytePe EMI Store runs pre-approved offers with no documents or KYC for eligible buyers, subject to the lender's check.
Fulfilled by an Apple Authorised Reseller, with open-box delivery: the order is opened in your presence at the door.
When the iPhone 18 series reaches Indian retail, expect the same three routes on BytePe. We will update this article with BytePe's iPhone 18 pricing the day it is listed.
Three ways to pay for an iPhone 18 in India
At ₹1.35 lakh and up, how you pay matters as much as which model you pick. There are three routes, and the right one depends on how long you keep a phone.
Buy outright if you keep a phone for three years or more. It is the cheapest total cost, and you carry the resale risk when next September's model arrives.
Take an EMI if you want ownership without the upfront hit. Read the fine print on no-cost EMI: it usually needs a specific bank's credit card, and 18% GST applies on the interest component. If you do not have a credit card, the BytePe EMI Store is the cardless route, subject to eligibility.
Subscribe if you like being on the newest iPhone every September. A BytePe subscription puts the phone on a monthly fee with device protection included and a new device every year, which lines up neatly with Apple's annual cycle: take the 17 Pro now, move to the 18 Pro when it lands, without selling anything. Plans across the BytePe catalog start at ₹999 a month, and our subscription versus buying outright guide works through the maths for a ₹1.3 lakh phone.
How to get a new iPhone on BytePe
Open the BytePe product catalog and pick your model, storage and colour. The iPhone 17 series is listed now; the iPhone 18 series will be added as it reaches Indian retail.
Choose a monthly subscription, or buy through the EMI Store if you prefer ownership without a credit card. Both show the full monthly cost before you commit, with no hidden interest maths.
Keep Aadhaar and PAN handy for KYC and an active Indian bank account for the monthly debit. Pre-approved buyers may skip documents entirely. The process is digital and takes minutes.
Your iPhone ships to your Indian address and is opened in your presence. On subscription plans device protection is active from delivery, with no separate insurance to buy.
Should you wait for the iPhone 18 or buy the iPhone 17 now?
Wait if you want the Pro Max or the foldable, or if 2nm performance and 12GB of RAM matter to you. The event is five days away, and the price will be known the same night.
Buy now if you need a phone this week or want the best value: the iPhone 17 Pro is ₹1,20,900 on BytePe against Apple's ₹1,34,900, which is roughly the gap reports expect between the 17 Pro and the 18 Pro. Apple also tends to cut the outgoing Pro models from its own store after the event, which pushes 17 Pro buyers to resellers, so stock at the discounted price does not last.
And if you want the standard iPhone 18, you are waiting until 2027 either way. The iPhone 17 at ₹80,400 on BytePe, or on subscription from about ₹3,799 a month, is the sensible move for that buyer.
Frequently asked questions
When is the iPhone 18 launching in India?
Apple's event is on 9 September 2026 at 10:30 PM IST, confirmed by Apple. Reports say the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and a foldable iPhone will be unveiled, with Indian pre-orders on 12 September and deliveries about a week later if Apple follows its 2025 timing. The standard iPhone 18 is reported for early 2027.
What will the iPhone 18 Pro cost in India?
Apple has not announced a price. Indian reports estimate ₹1.35 to ₹1.40 lakh for the iPhone 18 Pro, against ₹1,34,900 for the iPhone 17 Pro today. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is estimated at ₹1.55 lakh and above.
Is the standard iPhone 18 launching in September 2026?
Reportedly not. NDTV Profit and others report that Apple has split the launch, with only the Pro models and the foldable in September and the standard iPhone 18 in early 2027. Apple supplier Pegatron indirectly confirmed the split on its June 2026 earnings call.
How much will the foldable iPhone cost in India?
Estimates only: ₹1.9 to ₹2.1 lakh at launch, with top storage variants above ₹2.3 lakh, per Firstpost. The name is reported as either iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra.
Will the iPhone 18 work on Jio and Airtel 5G in India?
Apple has not published the iPhone 18 band list yet. Indian units are expected to use Apple's C2 modem. Every iPhone 17 Pro sold in India supports the n28, n78 and n41 bands that Jio and Airtel use, and Apple has never shipped an India iPhone without them, so full 5G support is expected but not yet confirmed.
What does the iPhone 17 cost on BytePe today?
On 4 September 2026 BytePe lists the iPhone 17 (256GB) at ₹80,400 upfront or from ₹3,937 a month on EMI, the iPhone 17 Pro at ₹1,20,900 or from ₹5,920 a month, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at ₹1,34,900 or from ₹6,605 a month. Subscription plans include device protection and a new device every year.
References & Links
Internal links
External references
Apple Newsroom India: iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max announcement, 9 September 2025
NDTV Profit: Apple splits iPhone 18 launch, base models face 2027 delay (20 August 2026)
MacRumors: Apple supplier confirms no standard iPhone 18 this year (15 June 2026)
TrendForce: iPhone 18 Pro memory costs and price outlook (3 September 2026)
Firstpost: expected iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max India price (19 August 2026)
Firstpost: iPhone 18 Fold or Ultra India price and specs (5 August 2026)
Firstpost: Apple faces 400% surge in iPhone 18 Pro memory costs (3 September 2026)
Times of India: iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Fold expected India price (4 September 2026)
PhoneArena: iPhone 18 Pro and foldable prices leak ahead of launch (3 September 2026)
91mobiles: iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders reported for 12 September (31 August 2026)
Gadgets360: iPhone 18 Pro C2 modem outside the US (3 July 2026)
TelecomTalk: iPhone 18 Pro Max upgrades and US price leak (3 September 2026)
NDTV Profit: buying an iPhone 17 on a BytePe subscription (10 October 2025)
