iPhone 16 Craze: Ahmedabad Man Waits 21 Hours in Long Lines, Store Opens 3 Hours Early

The iPhone 16 series phones have become available from today, September 20. Apple’s two official stores in Delhi and Mumbai opened at 8 AM, though they usually open at 11 AM. Long lines of customers were seen outside both stores to buy Apple’s new devices.

At the BKC store in Mumbai, a customer named Akshay mentioned that he arrived at 6 AM. He purchased the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The company launched the iPhone 16 series with AI features, including iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, during its biggest event of the year, “It’s Glow Time,” held on Monday, September 9. Apple started pre-booking on September 13, and customers can book the phones through the official website or e-commerce sites like Flipkart and Amazon.

Customer Ujjwal Stands in Line for 21 Hours to Buy iPhone 16

In an interview with ANI, Ujjwal mentioned, “I have been standing in line for the past 21 hours. I arrived here at 11 AM yesterday, and I will be the first person to enter the store at 8 AM today. I am very excited today. Last year, I stood in line for 17 hours for the phone.”

iPhone 16 Pro Max is ₹44,000 More Expensive in India than the US

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is ₹44,000 more expensive in India compared to the US, but Indian customers still find iPhones to be more expensive than in other countries. Even though iPhone 16 series models are now being assembled in India, the Pro Max model costs almost ₹44,000 more in India than in the US.

Meanwhile, there is a difference of approximately ₹13,000 for the iPhone 16 model. The starting price for iPhone 16 in India is ₹79,900, while the Pro Max costs ₹1,44,900. In contrast, the same iPhone 16 model is available in the US for $799 (₹67,100), and the Pro Max for $1199 (₹1,00,692).

How to Buy the iPhone 16 at a Lower Price

Due to the lack of taxes and import duties, iPhones have always been cheaper in the US and Canada compared to India and other countries. If you have a friend or family member in the US or Canada, you can ask them to buy the iPhone for you and bring it to India during their next visit. Similarly, buying the iPhone from Dubai would be cheaper due to its duty-free status. Electronics are generally more affordable in Dubai. Additionally, you can save money by waiting for seasonal discounts. Many electronics, including the iPhone 16, are available at discounted prices during events like Black Friday in the US or the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Many banks and credit card companies also offer discounts on iPhones. You can check their offers. Moreover, several credit card companies provide cashback incentives, promotional credits, or points that can be used for future purchases. Check these options as well.

Avoid rushing to buy the new iPhone series immediately after its release, as the price tends to drop a few months after the initial launch. If you can wait a bit, you can save a good amount on your purchase.

All Gadgets, Including the iPhone 16, Available from Today

Alongside the iPhone 16 series, Apple also introduced the Apple Watch Series 10 during its “Glow Time” event. The new watch has a 30% larger screen area, making it the slimmest Apple watch yet (9.7mm). Its starting price is ₹46,900.

In addition, new colors for the Watch Ultra 2 were also launched, designed for athletes. This watch can last for 72 hours in low-power mode and has the most accurate GPS available. Apple also launched new colors for AirPods 4 and AirPods Max. All of Apple’s new gadgets are available for sale from today.

Why Are iPhones Expensive in India Despite Being Made Locally?

iPhones have been assembled in India since the launch of the iPhone 15. Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group has set up a plant near Sriperumbudur, Chennai, for assembling iPhones. However, various parts are still imported, and custom duties are levied on them.

For example, the iPhone’s display is made by Samsung, and a 20% import duty is imposed on it. Additionally, import duties and GST are applied to circuit boards, transistors, and processors. All these costs combined increase the final production cost.

Meanwhile, the Pro series is not assembled in India; it is fully imported. The government imposes a 22% import duty and a 2% social welfare surcharge on these models, along with 18% GST, bringing the total tax to nearly 40%.