Buyers throng stores for iPhone 17 on launch day in India

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Apple's latest iPhone 17 series went on sale in India on Friday, sending hundreds to queue up outside retail outlets hours ahead of opening. 

At the Apple store in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), a scuffle broke out among frenzied buyers as doors opened, with video footage showing a free-for-all before security intervened to restore order.

Fans had begun gathering outside Apple outlets in major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru well before midnight, hoping to be among the first to get their hands on the new devices. Many admitted to camping overnight, a ritual that has become a fixture of iPhone launches in India.

The iPhone 17 lineup, unveiled earlier this month, features four models: the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a new ultra-thin variant, iPhone Air. 

All models start with 256GB storage as standard, a first for Apple. The base iPhone 17 is powered by the new A19 chip, while the Air, Pro, and Pro Max carry the more powerful A19 Pro processor.

Photography remains the series' biggest draw. Each handset is equipped with a 48-megapixel "Fusion" main camera, with the Pro and Pro Max adding advanced ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. 

An 18-megapixel front camera now supports Apple's Centre Stage feature, automatically adjusting framing during video calls.

Prices have also grabbed attention. The iPhone 17 starts at Rs 82,900, while the iPhone Air opens at Rs 1,19,900. 

The Pro is priced from Rs 1,34,900, and the top-end Pro Max reaches Rs 2,29,900 for the 2TB variant—marking the first time an iPhone in India has crossed the Rs 2 lakh barrier. 

Exchange bonuses, cashback offers, and no-cost EMI schemes are being extended through select banks and retail partners.