iPhone 17 tops Apple’s first-month India sales

The iPhone 17 became the largest-selling Apple smartphone in the first month of launch in India, according to market researchers, as a new edition overshadows older models for the first time, mirroring the country’s growing importance for the company.

- Shouvik Das

Sales were 15-20% higher than earlier models in the first 30 days, Bernstein, Counterpoint and IDC estimated.

Counterpoint’s projections showed the iPhone 17 accounted for 57% of all iPhones sold—the highest-ever adoption of Apple's latest generation smartphone in India to date. Until the iPhone 17 launch, older models dominated sales even after new launches, said IDC and Counterpoint. While these will still account for the majority of sales in FY26, the percentage of buyers choosing the newest model is on the rise.

That reflects Apple's growing fortunes in India even as the broader market struggles. Smartphone sales in the country have declined over the past three years, while revenue has risen, suggesting rising demand for costlier models.