Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series went on sale in India today, with the company confirming official prices for both the Pro and Pro Max models.

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900 for the 256GB model, rising through Rs 1,89,900, Rs 2,39,900 and up to Rs 3,14,900 for the 2TB variant.

Sales began at 8 am IST via Apple’s official India store, with the devices also available on Flipkart, Amazon and other authorized retailers.

Those who pre-ordered ahead of the launch are being prioritized for delivery, while walk-in buyers can purchase from remaining retail stock.

Apple is offering cashback, EMI and trade-in options on the new phones, along with free Personal Setup for direct purchases.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max were originally unveiled globally at Apple’s September 9 event, alongside the AirPods 5, in the company’s first major launch under new CEO John Ternus.

The devices feature a 2nm A20 Pro chip, a 48MP Fusion camera system with variable aperture, and up to 30 hours of battery life on the Pro Max variant.

For the first time, Apple is offering a 2TB storage option on the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, aimed at users with heavy photo and video storage needs.

India’s official pricing was confirmed only closer to the local launch; earlier estimates ahead of the global unveiling had pegged the India price near Rs 1,39,900, lower than the confirmed figure.

Physical store availability is expected to remain limited in the initial days, with Apple prioritizing fulfillment of existing pre-orders before opening walk-in sales more broadly.

The iPhone 18 series does not include a foldable iPhone, despite months of speculation ahead of the global launch event.

India remains one of the fastest-growing markets for Apple globally, with the company expanding its retail footprint and local manufacturing base in the country in recent years.

Apple Store sales floor (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

PM Narendra Modi kicked off SEMICON India 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, marking the fifth edition of the country’s flagship semiconductor industry event.

The three-day convention, themed ‘Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem,’ brings together over 600 companies from 52 nations and more than 150 speakers across a 15,000 square metre exhibition.

The event’s opening day fell on PM Modi’s 76th birthday and Vishwakarma Jayanti, which he referenced in connecting India’s craftsmanship legacy with its semiconductor push.

A roundtable with global semiconductor CEOs ahead of the launch saw Japan’s Fujifilm commit ₹800 crore to a new semiconductor materials facility in India.

India’s Semicon India Programme has approved 12 projects to date, part of a broader push to build the country’s semiconductor market to $200 billion.

The government has approved 12 semiconductor projects under the Semicon India Programme so far, with three units under the initial Semicon 1.0 phase having already commenced commercial production.

Twenty-four startups have been approved under the Design Linked Incentive scheme, which supports Indian companies developing semiconductor chip designs.

The government has also approved a Semicon 2.0 phase of the programme, structured around six pillars aimed at deepening India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi chaired a roundtable with global semiconductor CEOs, emphasizing close collaboration between government and industry on skilling, innovation and emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

Japanese company Fujifilm announced an investment of ₹800 crore for a new greenfield semiconductor materials manufacturing facility in India, following its CEO’s attendance at the PM’s roundtable.

The government has set a broader target of building India’s semiconductor market into a $200 billion industry as part of its long-term electronics manufacturing strategy.

September 17 also marked PM Modi’s 76th birthday, as well as Vishwakarma Jayanti, which the PM referenced in his address while linking India’s traditional craftsmanship to its modern technology ambitions.

Semiconductor wafer on dicing tape (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Poco X8 Power and Poco X8 5G have been launched in India, with prices starting at Rs 29,999.

The X8 Power, priced at Rs 35,999, is built around a 10,000mAh battery paired with 100W HyperCharge fast charging.

The X8 Power also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 chipset and a 6.83-inch 1.5K, 120Hz AMOLED display.

The standard X8 5G runs on a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset, with a 9,000mAh battery and a 50-megapixel dual rear camera setup.

Both phones will be available from September 11, 2026, exclusively through Flipkart.

At 229 grams and 8.65mm thick, the X8 Power’s weight and dimensions reflect the trade-offs of housing a 10,000mAh battery in a phone of this size.

The standard Poco X8 5G runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset, with RAM options of 6GB, 8GB and 12GB.

Camera hardware on the Poco X8 5G includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor paired with a 2-megapixel secondary lens, along with a 16-megapixel front camera.

The Poco X8 Power’s 10,000mAh Silicon-Carbon battery is paired with 100W HyperCharge fast charging, aiming to offset the downside of a larger battery with quicker top-up times.

Poco has positioned both phones squarely in the budget-to-midrange segment, competing against similarly specced offerings from Redmi, Realme and other Chinese-origin brands in India.

Both phones will go on sale from September 11, 2026, at 12 noon, exclusively through Flipkart.

Launch offers include a Rs 2,000 coupon discount and a Rs 1,000 bank offer or exchange bonus, bringing effective prices down to Rs 26,999 for the X8 and Rs 32,999 for the X8 Power.

The Poco X8 Power 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 chipset and features a 6.83-inch 1.5K, 120Hz AMOLED display.

The X8 Power carries IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings for dust and water resistance, an unusually comprehensive set of protections for its price segment.

Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative Poco smartphone image)