iPhone 17 Pro Max price in India vs Dubai: How much cheaper it is and what you can get for the difference

iPhone 17 Pro max

Apple may have unveiled its sleek new iPhone 17 Pro Max with all the usual fanfare, but for Indian buyers the excitement quickly turns into sticker shock. The top-end iPhone in the new lineup is priced at Rs 1,49,900 here, which, let’s be honest, is not pocket change. But a quick look across the Arabian Sea tells a very different story.

In Dubai, the same iPhone is listed at 5,099 AED, or about Rs 1,22,500. That’s nearly Rs 27,400 less than what Indian buyers are asked to pay. Put another way: in India, the extra you shell out could buy you a decent mid-range Android phone, a small getaway trip, or even cover several months’ worth of groceries.

Here’s the kicker though, flying out to Dubai to pick up the iPhone could still make financial sense. Budget airlines are offering round trips from Delhi to Dubai for under Rs 23,000. Do the math: phone plus flight equals around Rs 1,45,100. That still leaves you with almost Rs 5,000 in savings, compared to buying it in Delhi. Yes, you’d technically be rewarded for taking a quick trip abroad.

Of course, this is more of a thought experiment than practical advice. No one’s really factoring in hotels, meals, or the thrill of wandering around Dubai Mall. But the comparison underlines the reality that iPhones have always been disproportionately expensive in India.

And it’s not just Dubai. Hong Kong is even cheaper, with a difference of about Rs 34,300 compared to India. Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam also offer better deals, while the US remains a bargain if you don’t mind navigating local sales taxes.

The bigger question remains: why do Indian customers always pay more? The answer lies in customs duties, GST, and Apple’s pricing strategy in a market where iPhones are aspirational but not mass-market. Until that changes, buying the latest iPhone here will always feel like paying a premium for being an Apple loyalist.