September 20 is when the iPhone 16 Pro goes on sale in India, however customers could have to wait until October

Apple India’s delivery dates for the iPhone 16 Pro have been delayed to October, but offline retailers are reporting a different timeline.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, along with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, will be available in India starting September 20, with pre-orders already underway. However, there’s a catch: if you try to order an iPhone 16 Pro model from Apple India, you’ll find that delivery dates have been pushed to October. This means you won’t be able to get your hands on a Pro model on launch day if you order now.

This aligns with our earlier reports indicating that securing a Pro model at launch would be challenging unless you acted quickly when pre-orders began. This prediction has proven accurate. Additionally, other platforms like Amazon and Flipkart have also sold out of most iPhone 16 series models, with only select variants, such as the 1TB iPhone 16 Pro, still available on Flipkart. However, the situation is somewhat better offline, particularly in Tier-2 cities, offering a different experience compared to previous years.

Key Takeaways:

• The iPhone 16 Pro in the new Desert Titanium colorway appears to be the most sought-after.
• Customers are prepared to pay over ₹10,000 to secure an iPhone 16 Pro Max on launch day, September 20.
• If purchasing online in India, anticipate receiving your unit in October.

Online Order Delivery Dates for the iPhone 16 Pro Max Were Moved to October 15

Upon checking the delivery dates for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium 256GB, we found that they have been delayed to as late as October 15. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro is still somewhat better, with delivery expected around October 5, likely due to lower demand. Surprisingly, the Desert Titanium color—this year’s standout hue—is as readily available as the other color options. In contrast, last year’s most popular color, Natural Titanium, was harder to come by compared to other shades like Black Titanium and Blue Titanium.

It’s important to note that this scarcity exists despite a reduction in overall demand. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have not met expectations, whereas the iPhone 16 Plus has seen a significant surge, with demand increasing by 48% compared to the iPhone 15 Plus.

How is the offline situation with the iPhone 16 Pro?

The situation is quite different for offline sales. We spoke with several retailers in New Delhi and Jaipur to understand the demand for the iPhone 16 Pro models. Paras Sareen, a prominent retailer with a substantial social media following of over 132,000 on Instagram, shared that his store, PhoneOClock in New Delhi’s Paschim Vihar, is experiencing significant demand for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in the new Desert Titanium colorway. Sareen explained, “The high demand is largely due to the ₹15,000 price drop compared to the iPhone 15 Pro’s launch price that Apple introduced for the Indian market. Everyone wants the new Desert Titanium color and they want it on launch day, September 20.” He added, “Customers are willing to pay an additional ₹5,000-10,000 above the MRP to get the device on the launch date.”

To provide a clearer picture, we also reached out to retailers in Tier-2 cities like Jaipur. Real Mobiles, located in the bustling Ganpati Plaza, informed us that the situation is somewhat different in these cities. They are experiencing only 50% of the demand compared to the iPhone 15 Pro series, and customer inquiries are also fewer. “Demand is just 50% of what we saw for the iPhone 15 Pro, although the Desert Titanium color is still the most popular this year,” said the retailer. When asked if the iPhone 16 Pro Max was the most sought-after model, the retailer surprised us by saying that bookings are “mixed,” with roughly equal demand for both the Pro and Pro Max models.

What this means is that you might still be able to purchase an iPhone 16 Pro model offline. However, you’ll need to check with local retailers to see if they are still accepting bookings for the new models and if they can provide an iPhone 16 Pro at MRP around the launch date in September 2024.