Apple has officially kicked off pre-orders in India for its flagship iPhone 18 Pro lineup, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5, ahead of general store availability starting Friday, September 18. Customers across the country can now book the devices online via the Apple Store online and the Apple Store app, as well as at Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
- Pre-orders in India open on Saturday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. IST, with retail deliveries starting September 18.
- iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max begins at Rs 1,79,900.
- The Pro lineup introduces the A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometre process, featuring variable aperture camera optics and iOS 27 with Siri AI.
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrive with the new S11 processor and upgraded health tracking sensors.
- AirPods 5 bring Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear format starting at Rs 14,900.
iPhone 18 Pro Lineup Hardware and Specifications
The iPhone 18 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen, while the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max carries a 6.9-inch display, both offering ProMotion refresh rates up to 120Hz.
Under the hood, Apple has introduced the A20 Pro chipset. The silicon includes a six-core CPU, a seven-core GPU with dedicated neural accelerators, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine designed for machine learning workloads. Apple paired the chip with a redesigned vapour chamber cooling system that features three times more surface area than earlier designs to manage sustained heavy tasks. The phones also use Apple’s custom C2 cellular modem and N1 wireless chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
The camera hardware receives its first mechanical variable aperture setup on the 48-megapixel Fusion Main sensor. The lens utilizes six laser-cut blades that switch between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0 stops depending on lighting requirements. Accompanying the main sensor are a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens and a 48-megapixel tetraprism Telephoto camera offering up to 8x optical-quality zoom.
On the software side, both smartphones run iOS 27, debuting Siri AI. The assistant pulls on-screen context and personal user data directly on the device, backed by Apple’s Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
Wearables and Audio: Apple Watch and AirPods 5
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 bring refreshed health capabilities, running on the new S11 dual-core architecture. The rugged Ultra 4, priced at Rs 1,09,900 in India, features a titanium chassis and provides up to 45 hours of continuous battery tracking during outdoor workouts. It also introduces an integrated Readiness score based on sleep and recovery metrics.
AirPods 5 target mainstream users looking for quiet listening without silicone ear tips. The open-ear earbuds incorporate active noise reduction that suppresses up to 50 percent more ambient noise than the previous iteration. Apple offers them in two options: a standard variant at Rs 14,900 and a wireless charging case edition at Rs 17,900.
India Pricing and Trade-In Options
Buyers in India can trade in older smartphones directly through Apple, with eligible exchange values ranging up to Rs 81,500. Bank cashbacks and no-cost monthly EMI plans are also available across major Indian financial partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro in India?
A1. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900 for the 256GB base storage variant.
Q2. When will the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Watch Series 12 go on open sale?
A2. Open sales across Apple retail locations and authorised partner stores in India commence on Friday, September 18.
Q3. What is the primary difference in the iPhone 18 Pro camera?
A3. The main 48-megapixel camera incorporates a physical variable aperture system with movable blades, allowing mechanical depth control between f/1.48 and f/4.0.
Q4. Do the AirPods 5 support Active Noise Cancellation?
A4. Yes, AirPods 5 feature Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design.
