Apple denies it is discontinuing iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus in India

NEW DELHI: Apple has denied reports that it is discontinuing two-year older iPhone models in India. The speculation started as the company has removed iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models from its website in India.

Though these three smartphones have been removed from the Apple India website, they will continue to sell in retail stores.

This means that Indian users will soon have five iPhone ranges to choose from (post the launch of the new iPhones, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, in India). The series is led by the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, followed by the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE and finally the iPhone 5s. It is worth mentioning that as per Counterpoint Research, a market research organisation, iPhone 5s contributed to almost half of the company's total sales in India during the first quarter of 2016.


The Cupertino-based Apple has also upgraded the storage versions of the previous iPhone models. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus devices now won’t be available in 16GB and 64GB storage versions and instead will come in 32GB and 128GB variants. However, the iPhone SE is the only exception to the list and hence would be available in same 16GB and 64GB storage options. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, as announced at the event, will come in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options.

While the price of the iPhone 7 starts at $649, the iPhone 7 Plus hits stores at $749. There is also an iPhone upgrade programme for users in the US, UK and China. Pre-orders in the US start this Friday and shipping commences from September 16. In India, the phones will be available from October 7 and the price starts at Rs 60,000 (32GB).