iPhone 15 sales take off, but top models in short supply

Retailers see shortage of Pro, Pro Max on first day; standard iPhones see higher demand

- Shouvik Das

Sales of Apple’s iPhone 15 series smartphones kicked off on a strong note in India on Friday, with at least three retailers complaining of a shortage of top end Pro and Pro Max models.

“We are seeing strong first-day sales of the new iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. However, we haven’t managed to fully cash in on the general demand, as supplies of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are short right now," said a multi-brand phone retailer from Kolkata, requesting anonymity.

Similar shortages were reported from Delhi and Mumbai as well. A major multi-brand retailer in Delhi said that sales of the iPhone 15 series on the first day were “better than last year’s", though the Pro models quickly went out of stock.

Following last year’s iPhone 14 launch as well, there were limited supplies of the top models in November and December, leading to long waiting times. However, the previous shortage was sparked by a covid-19 outbreak in the iPhone factories in China, which doesn’t trouble the supply chain any more.