iPhone 6S, 6S Plus pre-bookings begin across India, retail chains line up freebies

NEW DELHI: Retailers have started taking bookings for Apple’s latest iPhones and those waiting to get their hands on them should be prepared to shell out a minimum of Rs 62,000 for the lowest storage variant, 16 GB, of the iPhone 6s, going up to Rs 92,000 for the 128 GB variant of the iPhone 6s Plus.

According to three trade sources, Apple has communicated the indicative prices and given the go-ahead to begin taking advance orders. Industry officials told ET the iPhone 6s 64 GB would cost about Rs 72,000 and the 128 GB version would be about Rs 82,000.

The iPhone 6s Plus 16 GB would be priced at Rs 72,000 and its larger storage model of 64 GB would be priced at Rs 82,000.

Apple is yet to declare official prices in India, the company said in response to an emailed query.

Pre-bookings have started at major retail chains across the country. The MobileStore, India’s largest mobile phone retail chain, said it will begin taking orders from Friday. The Mumbai-based chain with over 800 outlets will take pre-orders for Rs 2,000 each up to October 13. The devices will become available on the night of October 15.

"The iPhone 6s 64 GB variant is the most popular one as of now," said Satish Babu, founder of Chennai-based UniverCell Mobiles, one of the largest retail chains in south India, which has started taking pre-orders across its 300 stores. "Since yesterday we have got at least 100 orders," he added.

Bengaluru-based Sangeetha Mobiles’ managing director Subhash Chandra said the company had started taking pre-orders for Rs 1,000 apiece and expects most existing iPhone users to upgrade to the new models within the first month.

The retail chains will offer monthly installment payment options, upgrade programmes and finance schemes. "We will also offer freebies like back case and accessories during the booking period," Satish Babu added.

Sources add Apple is set to get on a marketing blitzkrieg and retailers are expecting much higher sales than last year as the Cupertino-based smartphone maker plans to make adequate stocks available.

"We had asked for 10,000 units for the first week -- that’s the kind of response we’re seeing now and expecting it to build after the launch happens. But we may not get that much," one of the large format retailers told ET, requesting anonymity.