Apple Sees Surge in Demand for Latest iPhones in India

Apple's latest iPhone launch has resulted in long queues outside its stores across major Indian cities. The demand for the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is stronger than last year's iPhone 17, with customers waiting up to 10 hours to be among the first to buy.

The strong demand is expected to boost Apple's share in India, a market dominated by Chinese brands and Samsung. According to Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research, Apple's volume market share is likely to hit 10% in 2026, up from 4% in 2022.

Chinese smartphone companies have been losing market share in India due to rising chip costs, which has forced them to raise prices. However, Apple has successfully tapped into India's trend of premiumization with the help of options such as zero-cost monthly loan payments and student offers.