iPhone 17 vs Pro vs Air | Global Price Comparison

Apple has officially launched the highly anticipated iPhone 17 range, which includes the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the brand new iPhone Air. All of these will be on sale from September 19, and, as with all of Apple’s new devices, there has been a global conversation not only about the new advances but also the cost.

While Apple wants to stay at the forefront of performance and design, the extra cost may lead many to reconsider their iPhone purchase, especially in a price-sensitive market such as India, where imported iPhones are high-margin products, meaning iPhones cost much more than in the USA, Hong Kong, or Japan. Even with Apple’s attempts at developing a local ecosystem for creating and manufacturing devices, the reality is that Indian consumers still pay some of the highest prices for the product in the world.

Why India pays more for iPhones

Analysts mostly consider two key factors in determining the price of an iPhone in India:

1. The heavy import duties and taxes on expensive electronic items.

2. Apple’s premium pricing strategy keeps its customers in what they consider to be a luxurious brand.

The combination of these two factors means that Indian consumers pay 20-30% more for an iPhone than they do in other regions, especially for the iPhone 17 Pro, which is supposed to be one of the most expensive mobile devices in the country.

Comparative Pricing of the iPhone 17 Series (256GB)

Here’s a comparison of pricing for Apple’s latest models across key markets:

• iPhone 17

• India: ₹82,990

• United States: ~₹70,450

• Hong Kong: ~₹79,300

• Japan: ~₹77,730

• UAE: ~₹81,682

• Vietnam: ~₹82,746

• Singapore: ~₹89,280

• iPhone Air

• India: ₹99,990

• United States: ~₹88,000

• Hong Kong: ~₹97,299

• Japan: ~₹95,475

• UAE: ~₹1,03,310

• Vietnam: ~₹1,05,926

• Singapore: ~₹1,09,809

• iPhone 17 Pro

• India: ₹1,34,900

• United States: ~₹96,900

• Hong Kong: ~₹1,06,400

• Japan: ~₹1,07,600

• UAE: ~₹1,12,800

• Vietnam: ~₹1,17,000

• Singapore: ~₹1,20,200

For purchasers in India, the difference in price is noteworthy: the iPhone 17 starts at ₹82,990, about ₹12,500 more expensive than in the United States. And with the iPhone 17 Pro, the gap is ₹38,000 between India and the US.

This pattern speaks to Apple’s intention of making iPhones aspirational in India. Those who spend money on the iPhone 17 line-up will have no consistent dissatisfaction with the performance. But for those thinking the price is exorbitant, the next desire will be some form of an offer, trade-in deal, or to simply buy the phone overseas.