Apple raises iPhone 17, 18 Pro prices in India on memory chip costs

Apple has raised iPhone prices in India, with the base iPhone 17 now costing Rs 99,900, up from its launch price of Rs 82,900, and the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max priced higher than previous generations. The increases stem from rising memory and component costs. Apple cited a global memory chip shortage driven by surging AI data center demand, which has intensified competition for DRAM, HBM, and NAND supplies. This has forced price hikes across consumer electronics, including older models like the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air, with the latter seeing a Rs 30,000 increase. CEO Tim Cook confirmed plans to raise prices to offset higher storage costs. The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at Rs 1,64,000 and Rs 1,79,900, featuring longer battery life and enhanced camera controls, while Apple emphasizes Siri's AI upgrades focused on privacy.