Apple’s latest pricing move has caught many Indian buyers off guard. They have sharply reduced bank cashback benefits on the new iPhone 17, dropping the discount from ₹6,000 to just ₹1,000, while also tweaking its zero-cost EMI options. As a result, the effective cost of owning an iPhone 17 has risen noticeably, making the base model of the latest lineup pricier for consumers at a time when demand is already high and availability remains tight. No changes in cashback are announced for the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models.
This change has come at the time when the iPhone 17 base model is either out of stock or available only in limited quantities across online and offline outlets. On top of that the delivery timelines are already being pushed by one to two weeks.
According to sources, Apple’s reduced cashback is tied directly to ongoing supply-chain constraints. With festive demand surging in the US during Thanksgiving and expected to rise in China ahead of the Lunar New Year, Apple is diverting more inventory to these key markets. This rerouting has created a global demand–supply imbalance, with the Indian market emerging as one of the most affected.
With the revised cashback structure being in effect from November 22, Indian buyers are feeling the pricing impact immediately. The adjustments of the zero-cost EMI schemes can further alter the affordability equation for the iPhone 17. If you are in the market for the latest iPhone, brace yourself for a higher price and longer wait.