Highlights
- Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, launches in India at ₹2,99,900 (256GB), making it the most expensive iPhone yet in the country.
- The India price is around ₹1,09,700 higher than the US of $1,999 (around ₹1,90,200), driven by import duties, GST and lack of local manufacturing.
- The steep pricing could push buyers toward Samsung’s foldables or the grey market, where unofficial imports may undercut Apple’s official India price.
iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, was launched in India on 9th September, 2026. (Image credit – Apple)
Apple’s first foldable iPhone has entered the Indian market at a price that is likely to become one of the biggest talking points around any latest gadget launch. The iPhone Duo starts at Rs 2,99,900 in India for the 256GB model, putting it just below the Rs 3 lakh mark.
That makes the iPhone Duo the most expensive iPhone yet in India and also puts it into a price category that very few smartphones have entered. While Apple is unlikely to expect the Duo to become a mass-market product, its pricing could have a wider impact on how Indian buyers look at premium smartphones.
iPhone Duo India Price vs US
The price difference between India and the US is particularly striking. The base iPhone Duo costs $1,999 in the US. At the exchange rate mentioned in the reports, that works out to around Rs 1,90,200.
In India, however, the same 256GB model costs Rs 2,99,900. This means Indian buyers are paying roughly Rs 1,09,700 more than the converted US price for the same phone.
Some of this difference can be explained by import duties, GST and Apple’s traditional India pricing structure. iPhones have generally been more expensive in India than in the US. However, the gap becomes much more noticeable with a phone that already costs close to Rs 3 lakh.
In fact, the additional amount that Indian buyers will have to pay compared with the US price is enough to buy a premium Android flagship.
Import Costs
Another factor working against the iPhone Duo’s India pricing is local manufacturing or the lack of it. The initial batch of the Duo will not be made in India and phones will arrive as CBU or completely built-up units. This will attract substantial GST, adding to the overall cost.
That makes the India-US price difference even more important for buyers.
For consumers, however, the reason behind the higher price may matter less than the final number on the box. When the difference runs into tens of thousands of rupees, it becomes significant even for customers who are already shopping in the premium segment.
iPhone Duo Is Nearly Twice the Price of iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone Duo’s pricing also looks expensive when compared with Apple’s own lineup. The foldable costs nearly twice as much as the iPhone 18 Pro, even though both devices use Apple A20 Pro chipset.
The Duo also costs roughly three times the revised price of the base iPhone 17. This makes the foldable a very different proposition from Apple’s conventional iPhones.
Of course, the iPhone Duo is not simply another annual iPhone upgrade. It is Apple’s first foldable smartphone and introduces a completely new form factor for the company. That makes a direct price comparison with previous iPhones somewhat difficult.
Still, the Rs 2,99,900 starting price creates a new psychological barrier for Apple buyersi in India.
The biggest question is not necessarily whether Apple can find buyers for the iPhone Duo. There will certainly be customers willing to spend that much on a aa smartphone. The bigger issue is how many buyers will consider spending close to Rs 3 lakh reasonable.
New Foldable iPhone Could Make Samsung’s Foldables Look Affordable
The iPhone Duo’s extremely high price could also benefit competitors in an unexpected way. The extremely high price will also catalyse sales of the Samsung Fold, which is now looking very affordable
Samsung’s foldable phones, which already occupy the premium end of the Indian smartphone market, could suddenly look considerably more affordable next to Apple’s first foldable. Consumers who want a foldable but find the Duo’s nearly Rs 3 lakh starting price difficult to justify may be more willing to consider Samsung.
Apple’s aggressive pricing could therefore create more room for competing foldables, particularly among buyers who want the foldable experience without crossing the Rs 3 lakh mark.
Could the High Price Push Buyers Towards the Grey Market?
The huge price difference between India and the US could could also create an opening for the grey market. When the same phone is available at a significantly lower converted price in another country, some buyers may look for ways to get the device into India without paying the full official India price.
This could increase demand for unofficial imports, especially among buyers who are willing to take risks to save a large amount of money. The grey market may also see an opportunity to offer imported iPhone Duo units at prices below the official India price.
The big concern here is that a very wide price gap can make unofficial channels more attractive. If the official India price remains close to Rs 3 lakh while imported units are available for substantially less, consumers may start comparing the two options rather than simply deciding whether they can afford the Duo.
