Apple will be opening an online Apple Store in India to start official online sales of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more in the country starting in the third quarter of 2020, reports TechCrunch.

The news comes courtesy of a "source familiar with the matter," and Apple's online store rollout is taking a "little longer than previously expected." Apple originally wanted to begin online sales in the country in the first quarter of 2020.

apple india
Apple last summer said that it was "eager" to bring online and in-store sales to customers in India. Apple is still working on the logistics of setting up the store, with the quarter between July and September set as the new deadline.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to take a trip to India when Apple is ready to begin online sales.

At the current time, Apple device sales in India are done through third-party retailers as Apple did not have permission to sell devices in the country due to foreign investment rules and regulations.

In August 2019, India eased the rules that had kept Apple from offering its products in first-party stores and an online ‌Apple Store‌. Apple is now said to be working on opening up retail locations in India, with a store in Mumbai in the works.

Tag: India

Top Rated Comments

JPack Avatar
54 months ago
The main issue here isn’t online sales. It’s the price and the in-store support (warranty) for iPhone. I don’t think this will change much but it’s a step in the right direction.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
raghupro Avatar
54 months ago
Might not have much impact right away but a move in the right direction. Sales and service in India are handled by third party authorised resellers as of now and sadly there are no concrete guidelines set to provide service on par with the countries where Apple operates directly. There have been many reported issues from various customers about service being turned down even with issues that are quite evident.

Only hope now is for Apple to start operating in India directly and improve their customer service.

Apart from that, once Apple operates directly I just hope their pricing gets better, especially with iPhones. Their iPhones are priced at almost 40% higher than what people pay in the US, all thanks to multiple layers of distribution and high import duties. Through relaxed FDI (foreign direct investment) norms Apple will be getting tax relaxation from Government of India and hope this is passed on to consumers with some price cuts on their iPhones.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheCoolGuy Avatar
54 months ago
One good thing about this is, we will be able to get different configurations of Mac. Currently we get only the base models with 8GB RAM.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PickUrPoison Avatar
54 months ago

HomePod is yet to launch in India. Currently, you just can’t buy a HomePod in Indian Apple stores or any authorized retailers. That’s just sad.
Is it? Not to me. I think there are higher priorities for both HomePod and for India.

HomePod for India is probably somewhere around 699th on my list of things I’d like Apple to do.

Edit: lol shows what I know. Not even 12 hours since posting this, you’ll be getting your wish @m4mario:

https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/29/homepod-coming-soon-to-india/
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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