Apple iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 8 prices in India increased

Apple on Monday announced increasing prices of its select iPhones in India. The company has revised the price to offset the increase in BCD rate and withdrawal of earlier exemption from BCD / Social Welfare Surcharge as per the Union Budget 2020-21. The price revision has come into effect from today. The official Apple website also reflects the updated prices.

It is worth noting that Apple has increased prices of its select handsets - iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. This, however, doesn't impact iPhone XR and iPhone 11, which happen to be Apple's top-selling smartphones in the country. Other categories such as Apple iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac range have also remained unaffected.

Apple pointed out that iPhone XR and iPhone 7 have remained unaffected by the price revision as these two handsets are assembled in India by its manufacturing partners Foxconn and Wistron.

According to Apple, the price hike for iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus is around 2%.

After the price revision, Apple iPhone 11 Pro 64GB is now selling for ₹1, 01,200, up from ₹99,000. The 256GB model of the phone is now available for ₹1, 15,200, up from ₹1, 13,900. The top-end model is now available for ₹1,33,200, up from ₹1,31,900.

Similarly, Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB and 512GB models are now selling for ₹1,11,200 and ₹1,43,200 respectively. These two models were previously available for ₹1, 09,900 and ₹1, 41,900 respectively.

Apple iPhone 8 Plus 64GB is available for ₹50,600. The 128 GB of the phone is available for ₹55,600. Both variants have seen a roughly ₹700 hike. Apple iPhone 8 64GB and 128GB models are now available for ₹40,500 and ₹45,500 respectively.

Apple's decision comes at a time when the company is finally proceeding with its ambitious plans to open retail stores in India. Apple CEO Tim Cook last week said the company will open Apple's first retail store in India in 2021. This year, Apple will have its official e-store directly selling products to consumers. So far, Apple has relied on local e-commerce partners to sell its products online.

"I'm a huge believer in the opportunity in India...It's a country with a vibrancy and demographics that are just unparalleled," Cook said while addressing the shareholders at the company's annual meeting.

"We needed to get approval from the government to go in there ourselves" rather than with a domestic partner, Cook said, referring to the recently relaxed FDI norms. "I don't want somebody else to run the brand for us."