As the excitement builds up for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus coming to India, the wait has just become shorter. Apple is advancing the time of its India launch for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus to 6 pm on September 29.
According to a report in the Economic Times, this is being done to ensure that there is a wider sales window as Apple gears up for the company’s biggest launch in India. The new iPhones along with the other new launches – Apple Watch Series 3 and the new Apple TV will be available in India at more than 10,000 stores across the country.
This will be combined with an advertising campaign spanning airport, digital, radio and print. Digitally, to will be across its website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from September 18.
As pre bookings begin on September 22, Apple is also offering a cashback of upto Rs 10,000
They said Apple is targeting over 50% growth in sales in the launch period over last year.
To meet the demand that the new iphones are expected to see, Apple will ensure there is no shortage of supply especially in stores that have been seeing the highest demand during the last few launches.
While the excitement for the new phone will see its fans lining up to get their hands on the iPhone hours before the launch, all retailers will have to sign an agreement that they will start sales only after 6 pm on September 29.
The consumer launch event will take place in leading malls on September 29 in nine cities including the National Capital Region, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad, they said.
“Company officials have indicated they will increase the number of in-shop promotions during the launch phase and are extremely bullish about a positive response considering this year the new iPhone will get the full festive season benefit of both Dussehra and Diwali unlike just Diwali in earlier years,” one executive told ET.
The new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available in 64GB and 256GB versions starting from Rs 64,000. The new watches will also be available at the prices of at Rs 29,900 and Rs 31,900.
The iPhone X will come to India over a month later on November 3 and has been priced upwards of Rs 89,000.
Post the launch of the new iPhones, Apple will discontinue the sale of iPhone 5s and iPhone 7Plus. Apart from the new iPhones, the devices that will be available will be the iPhone SE (32 GB and 128 GB) starting at Rs 26,000, iPhone 6 32GB at Rs 29,500, iPhone 6S (32 GB and 128 GB) starting at Rs 40,000 to iPhone 7 (32 GB and 128 GB) from Rs 49,000.