Vijay Deverakonda didn't buy iPhone 18 Pro, still uses iPhone Air like Kohli; he asks why take EMIs just to buy new Apple phones and impress others when older versions still work

Vijay Deverakonda has a question for anyone thinking about taking a loan to buy the newest iPhone like iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. Why bother, he asks, if the one in your pocket is still doing its job. The actor was caught on camera using the same iPhone Air as the person interviewing him, and when asked about it, he didn't dodge the question. "I'm still using this one because it works fine," he said. "Why would I change it just because a new model has come out." What started as a small aside about his own phone soon turned into a sharper comment on how people in India spend money to look a certain way, often without stopping to ask if they can actually afford it.

What Did Vijay Deverakonda Say About Buying A New iPhone
Vijay Deverakonda's point was simple. A phone that still makes calls, sends messages, browses the internet and takes photos properly does not need to be replaced just because a newer model has hit the shelves. "In India, a lot of people are obsessed with showing others what they have," he said. "If the phone works, why replace it." He added that chasing every new release, not because the old device has failed but because owning the newest version has become a way to be seen, is a habit that needs a reality check.


Virat Kohli Uses The Same iPhone Air Too

During the conversation, the interviewer pushed back a little, asking Vijay Deverakonda if he buys a new iPhone every year the way cricketer Virat Kohli is often seen doing. "You are a big actor, Virat is a great cricketer, do you buy a new iPhone every time," the interviewer asked. The actor's response pointed to something people tend to forget. "People need to know that because we are actors, a lot of our phones are gifts," he said. "We don't buy as much as people think." Comparing an ordinary buyer's spending to a celebrity's, he suggested, is not really a fair comparison to begin with. Virat Kohli has been recently spotted using iPhone Air.

How Do Celebrities Actually Get Their Gadgets
Vijay Deverakonda said plainly that actors and public figures are frequently gifted phones and other gadgets by brands looking for visibility. "Nobody gives gifts to everyone else," he said, pointing out that people watching from outside often assume celebrities are splurging on every new release, when in reality a large chunk of what they use never comes out of their own wallet.

Why Do People Take EMIs To Buy Phones They Cannot Afford
The actor then turned his attention to a habit he finds troubling, people taking EMIs to buy phones and even houses, purely to project a certain lifestyle to those around them. "Now people take EMIs to show others, to show that they have this, they have that house," he said. He said this pressure to keep up appearances has pushed many into monthly instalments for gadgets that are, at the end of the day, optional purchases. Spreading a big cost over many months can make an expensive phone feel more affordable in the moment, but his comment was a reminder that the total financial commitment doesn't disappear just because it's broken into smaller pieces.

What Did He Say About Basic Needs And Spending Choices
Vijay Deverakonda went a step further, pointing out that some people struggle to manage everyday expenses like food, yet still stretch themselves to fund a new phone purchase through a loan. "People are crazy, they don't have money for food or anything, but they still want to buy a new iPhone," he said. "We need to use common sense in places like this." His comment wasn't framed as judgment aimed at any one person, it came across more as a nudge toward practicality in a culture where gadgets have increasingly become lifestyle statements rather than tools.