DEAL ALERT
📉 Price Tracker · Ahead of the iPhone 18 Launch
The Apple iPhone 16 has drifted down to one of its lowest sustained prices yet in India — now selling for around ₹65,749 on Flipkart, well below its ₹79,900 launch price. With the iPhone 18 Pro expected in September, retailers are clearing iPhone 16 stock the same way they did when the iPhone 17 arrived. Here's the full price history and whether it's worth buying now.
Introduction
The Apple iPhone 16 launched in India in September 2024 at ₹79,900 for the 128GB model. Two years and two new iPhone generations later, it's now one of the cheapest genuinely current iPhones you can buy — tracked at around ₹65,749 on Flipkart as of early August 2026, and it has dipped as low as ₹51,999 during major festival sales.
With Apple expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September 2026, retailers are once again discounting older stock to make room — the same pattern seen last year when the iPhone 17's arrival pushed iPhone 16 prices down by a flat ₹10,000 overnight.
Quick Highlights
Price History Timeline
| When | Price (128GB) | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | ₹79,900 | India launch price |
| After iPhone 17 launch (2025) | ₹69,900 | Flat ₹10,000 price cut; 16 Pro/Pro Max discontinued |
| Festival sale event | ₹51,999 | Lowest price ever tracked, limited-time sale |
| Early August 2026 | ₹65,749 | Current Flipkart price, ~6% below MRP |
Some retailers have advertised even lower headline prices (one Croma promotion listed ₹40,041), but figures that far below the tracked average typically bundle in exchange bonuses or bank card offers rather than reflecting a flat retail price — always check what's actually included before treating a headline number as the real cost.
Why the Price Is Dropping Now
📅 The pattern from last year
- When the iPhone 17 launched in 2025, Apple cut iPhone 16 and 16 Plus prices by a flat ₹10,000 within days.
- The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max were discontinued entirely, replaced by the new 17 Pro lineup.
🔮 What's likely to happen next
- With the iPhone 18 Pro expected in September 2026, retailers are already discounting iPhone 16 stock to clear inventory.
- Historically, prices tend to dip further right around a new iPhone launch, then stabilize once the initial rush passes.
None of this is officially announced by Apple — it's a pattern based on how Apple and Indian retailers have priced the iPhone 16 over the past two years.
Should You Buy the iPhone 16 Now?
What you're getting
The iPhone 16 runs on Apple's A18 Bionic chip with a 6.1-inch 60Hz display, the Camera Control and Action Button introduced with this generation, and a 48MP main camera. It supports Apple Intelligence, and as a two-year-old device, it's well inside Apple's usual multi-year software update window.
What you're giving up
Compared to the iPhone 17, you lose the 120Hz ProMotion-style display improvements and camera upgrades Apple introduced with the newer generation, along with a few years of extra software-update headroom. If longevity matters more than saving money today, that gap is worth weighing.
The bottom line
At ₹65,749, the iPhone 16 is roughly ₹14,000 cheaper than its launch price, while still running current-generation software and Apple Intelligence features. If you don't need the newest display or camera hardware, this is close to the best sustained price the phone has had outside of a limited festival sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current price of the iPhone 16 in India?
As of early August 2026, the iPhone 16 (128GB) is priced at ₹65,749 on Flipkart, around 6% below its ₹69,900 MRP. This can change during active sale events.
What was the iPhone 16's lowest-ever price in India?
Price trackers have recorded a low of ₹51,999 during a major festival sale event. That was a limited-time promotional price, not a sustained everyday price.
Why is the iPhone 16 getting cheaper now?
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September 2026. Retailers typically discount older iPhone stock ahead of a new launch to clear inventory — the same thing happened to the iPhone 16 when the iPhone 17 launched in 2025.
Is the iPhone 16 still a good buy in 2026?
For most typical users, yes — it still runs Apple Intelligence and current iOS versions on the A18 Bionic chip. It makes the most sense if you're upgrading from an older iPhone and don't need the display or camera upgrades found on the iPhone 17.
Are the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max still available?
No — Apple discontinued the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max after the iPhone 17 series launched. Only the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus remain on sale.
