Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max face severe shortage at retail stores; customers may need to buy from Apple outlets or online platforms
New Delhi
Shoppers eyeing Apple’s latest iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could face disappointment this launch week, as retailers across India warn of thin supplies of the flagship models. Customers seeking the top-end versions may have to rely on Apple’s own stores or ecommerce platforms instead.
Industry sources say the crunch stems from Apple’s rapidly expanded retail footprint, which now spans 500 cities nationwide. This wider network has reduced per-store allocation of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, making them harder to find at mainline outlets.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 opened on September 12, with sales beginning September 19. However, retailers report that shipments are heavily skewed toward the base iPhone 17. In a typical batch of 500 units, only about 50 are Pro models and as few as 10 are Pro Max devices. Higher-capacity versions such as the 512GB and 1TB remain even more scarce.
Consumers walking in on launch day usually want the Pro or Pro Max, and often the top-end storage models, a retailer said. But we simply don’t get enough units to meet that demand.
The shortage has hit stores that accept advance bookings especially hard, as many are unable to honor customer commitments. While some retailers try to divert buyers to other variants, others risk losing business to Apple’s official channels. Analysts said the uneven allocation could frustrate loyal customers who expect availability of premium models on launch day, while giving Apple’s own retail outlets a sales advantage.