iphone 5 box 100The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has sold through its initial stocks of the iPhone 5 in India following the device's launch there on Friday, but the company was said to have delivered only 10,000-15,000 units for the first wave of sales.

“We were sold out within 24 hours of launch. It’s all gone,” said Himanshu Chakrawarti, chief executive of The MobileStore Ltd., a retailer that stocks iPhones and which has 900 outlets across India. Apple Inc.’s latest iPhone officially launched in India on Friday, more than a month after it hit major markets elsewhere.

Analysts are expecting Apple to deliver roughly 100,000 iPhone 5 units to India in the first month of availability, jumping to 200,000 by the end of the year.

While those shipment numbers pale in comparison to those seen other populous countries, they do represent a substantial jump over the 50,000 units sent to India in the June quarter, a boost due not only to the introduction of the new hardware but also improved distribution.

(Thanks, Rounak!)

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

Dammit Cubs Avatar
171 months ago
It's not like everyone can afford these phones.

Yes, they have a billion people.
Yes, Apple is supply constraint right now. But some people just can't afford it or choose to buy it at this ridiculous price.

To give you an idea, I was in India for a wedding. One of the servants never saw an iphone before (mesmorized). He asked how much it was, I didn't want to tell him, but I did.

It equaled his yearly income. Why do you think Nokia phones are still popular there? It takes time, but it will be reach everyone.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gotluck Avatar
171 months ago
Actually the price is $836 for a 16gb according to today's exchange rate.
And one basic thing. Price is US is under contract. U pay $200 upfront and then 24 months the rental is over 60-70$ ( this is the base plan)
So basically its much more expensive in USA then its in india at the end of two years.
Ahh well. Ignorance ;)
so... cell and data service is free in India then?

...ignorance
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hrishidev Avatar
171 months ago
iPhone 5 Black 16 GB is easily available at many electronic outlets since day one. I checked it today too. But other varients are still not available & definately demand is insane.

----------

There are over 1.2 billion people in India, but Apple is planning on sending only handsets 200,000 for the entire year? I guess Indians really hate iOS...

All iPhone so far are sold at price more than 700 $(base model price) and not at 200 $ like in US but people are still ready to buy. How many people in US will buy it at 700 $ & how many people in India will go for it if iPhone is 200$ ?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SWPROX Avatar
170 months ago
Oh look, another white guy who thinks he knows everything about just because he visited India once, for a wedding. Here is a little hint. He was a servant. Talk to someone who work in I.T or medical field. Last time I visited India, all I could see was iPhones and iPads.

Really bro-last time all you saw was only iPhones and iPads ! wow ! Am from New Delhi-so am Indian,don't go by that Canada moniker,I work in Canada-and to be honest,70% of the population survives below poverty line,AND what you talking about is the elite 1%,go check your facts-the per captia GDP of india is 1k$. And if you say it's cheap,so adjusting it to PPP it goes to just 3,000$ and you,if you are an Indian,you very well know the disparity which exists there.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hakuna-matata Avatar
171 months ago
Take a look at Galaxy S3 sales in India, they are doing well.
The reason is not that many people can't afford(though it's an imp factor). Main point is many choose not to.And the logic says : price.

India: post iPhone 5 prices of some phones:


iPhone 4 ( 8 gb only ) - 488$
iPhone 4s (16 gb only)- 708$
iPhone 5 (16 gb) - 837$
iPhone 5 (32 gb) - 965$

Samsung Galaxy S3 - 588$
Sam. Galaxy Note II -635$
Htc One X (16 gb ) - 570$

All phones prices come down nearly after 3-4 months of launch in India, but iphone prices remain same through out the whole year.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacCurry Avatar
171 months ago
largest population on the planet but what % of that population can actually afford an iphone?
There are 27 million smart phone users in India growing rapidly. The problem with Apple is that there is no dedicated iTunes store for India. So content is limited especially when India is so wealthy in much of its own music, movies and literature.

Apple can ignore India for now, but risks getting shut out down the road when Samsung is already dominating.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Sad Siri Feature

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays

Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
Netflix Smaller 4

Netflix Kills Casting From Its Mobile App to Most Modern TVs

Monday December 1, 2025 4:36 am PST by
Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile apps to most modern TVs and streaming devices, including newer Chromecast models and the Google TV Streamer. The change was first spotted by users on Reddit and confirmed in an updated Netflix support page (via Android Authority), which now states that the streaming service no longer supports casting from mobile devices...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
Cyber Week Deals 2025

Best Cyber Week Apple Deals Include Big Discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, and More

Sunday November 30, 2025 7:33 am PST by
Cyber Week is here, and you can find popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more at all-time low prices. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically,...
iOS 26

What to Expect From Apple This December: iOS 26.3 Beta, Replay 2025, and More

Monday December 1, 2025 8:40 am PST by
The calendar has turned to December, and the quieter year-end holiday season is now upon us. Nevertheless, we can still expect a few things from Apple this month. Apple previously announced that iOS 26.2 will be released to the general public in December, and we can expect corresponding updates to be released as well, including iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and visionOS...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...