iPhone 16 Hits Record Low of Rs 56,999 in India’s Black Friday 2025 Sales Blitz

On November 26, 2025, India’s electronics market saw one of its most aggressive Black Friday sales ever, with the iPhone 16 (128GB) plummeting to a jaw-dropping Rs 56,999 on Flipkart—a Rs 13,000 drop from its original Rs 69,900 price. The deal wasn’t just a sale; it was a strategic inventory purge, fueled by coordinated bank offers, trade-in bonuses up to Rs 25,000, and direct price cuts. For many Indians, this wasn’t just a bargain—it was the rarest kind of tech opportunity: a near-flagship iPhone at mid-range pricing.

How the Discounts Stack Up

Flipkart’s offer is the most aggressive. The iPhone 16 (128GB) is listed at Rs 56,999, but that’s only half the story. Add 10% cashback (up to Rs 5,000) for HDFC Bank and State Bank of India credit card users, and you’re looking at an effective price under Rs 52,000. Then, throw in a trade-in bonus of up to Rs 25,000 depending on your old device’s condition—say, a three-year-old iPhone 12—and you’re essentially paying less than Rs 30,000 for a brand-new iPhone. That’s unheard of in India’s premium smartphone market.

Meanwhile, Amazon India lists the same model at Rs 66,900—still a 16% discount—and adds a flat Rs 4,000 instant discount on SBI and ICICI Bank credit card EMIs. At Vijay Sales, the price sits at Rs 66,490, but with bank offers, it dips to Rs 62,490. Even Croma, Tata’s retail arm, matches Amazon’s pricing at Rs 66,990, touting the phone’s new Apple Intelligence features, the A18 chip, and 25W MagSafe charging.

Older Models Are Being Cleared Out—Fast

This isn’t just about the iPhone 16. Retailers are dumping entire generations. The iPhone 16 Plus starts at Rs 69,999. The iPhone 15 is hovering around Rs 49,999, though Vijay Sales lists it at Rs 55,690 with card discounts. The iPhone 14 is now routinely priced at Rs 44,499. And the iPhone 13? At Vijay Sales, it’s been slashed to Rs 39,900—with bank promotions.

Even the newly launched iPhone 17 isn’t safe from clearance tactics. Croma is selling it at its launch price of Rs 82,900—but offering Rs 1,000 cashback, up to Rs 29,000 in trade-in value, and a guaranteed Rs 7,000 exchange bonus across all its physical and online stores. That’s a total potential discount of Rs 37,000 on a phone that just hit shelves in early 2025. The message is clear: retailers are racing to clear stock before the rumored iPhone 18 launch next year.

Why This Matters—Beyond the Price Tag

The iPhone 16 doesn’t have the 120Hz ProMotion display or the A19 chip of the iPhone 17. But here’s the twist: it doesn’t need them. With the A18 chip, a 48MP main camera, a dedicated Camera Control button, and Apple Intelligence baked in, the iPhone 16 delivers 95% of the iPhone 17’s experience at less than 70% of the price. For first-time iPhone buyers, students, or families upgrading from Android, this is the sweet spot.

And it’s not just about the hardware. The coordination between retailers and banks is unprecedented. Flipkart, Amazon India, and Croma are all working with Mumbai-based banks—SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank—to layer discounts. Minimum purchase values (like Rs 41,940 for SBI) and device condition thresholds are strict, but the math still works. The result? A surge in smartphone demand that’s outpacing even Diwali sales.

What’s Next? The iPhone 18 Shadow

Analysts believe these discounts are a preemptive strike. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 in September 2026, and retailers know that once it’s out, older models will crater in value. By pushing the iPhone 16 and 17 hard now, they’re capturing buyers who might otherwise wait. It’s also a way to push customers into the Apple ecosystem—once you’re on iOS, you’re more likely to upgrade again in two years.

There’s another angle: Indian consumers are becoming savvier. They’re no longer buying just for the brand. They’re comparing specs, trade-in values, and bank offers across platforms. The iPhone 16’s popularity during this sale proves that value, not just prestige, is driving purchases. And with the iPhone 15 and 14 now priced like budget phones, Apple’s mid-tier lineup is becoming its most competitive segment in India.

Black Friday Timeline and Rules

The sale began on November 26, 2025, and runs through November 28, 2025—the traditional Black Friday window in India. All discounts are subject to retailer terms: bank cards must be used at checkout, trade-ins must be in working condition (no cracked screens, functional batteries), and EMI offers require a minimum transaction value. Some offers are limited to first-time buyers or exclude refurbished units. But for those who act fast, the savings are real.