Long queues and charged first-day energy defined the iPhone 18 series launch across India on Friday, 18 September 2026, as buyers arrived at Apple stores in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru well before doors opened at 8 am. Outlets including BKC, Mumbai and Select Citywalk, Saket, Delhi drew large pre-booked crowds eager to take home the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

First-Day Fervour Across Cities

At the BKC Apple Store in Mumbai, customers began lining up hours before the official opening. One buyer said he had travelled from Gujarat, arriving at around 6 am after stopping at Lalbaugcha Raja, and had booked the iPhone 18 Pro priced at approximately ₹1.64 lakh. He specifically highlighted the new camera shutter button, a smaller Dynamic Island, the A20 processor, and the new Cherry Red colour option as standout features.

Another customer made the journey from Surat, waiting a combined six hours in line before purchasing both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. 'I have been emotionally connected with the iPhone for a long time. All iPhone users know that whether there is something new in the phone or not, getting the new phone on the first day matters,' he said, adding he had been waiting since 10 pm the previous night.

Delhi Buyers and Multi-Phone Purchases

At Select Citywalk in Delhi, a long queue had formed before the store opened. One customer said he had booked the iPhone 18 Pro and had been using Apple devices since 2009, beginning with the iPhone 4. Another buyer said he was purchasing the iPhone 18 Pro Max 512 GB as a surprise gift for his daughter — and had himself been using iPhones since 2008, starting with the iPhone 3G.

A separate buyer at the Delhi outlet said he was purchasing between 5 and 7 phones and had pre-ordered the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Camera and AI Features Drive Upgrades in Bengaluru

In Bengaluru, buyers who had been waiting since around 5:30 am cited meaningful improvements as their reason for upgrading. 'The camera quality is better... The AI feature is also new, and Siri is also better this time. So, I'm eagerly waiting to use it,' one customer said.

A buyer from Karnataka who said he does not upgrade every year described his decision to move from the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 cycle: 'I don't upgrade every year. I upgrade only when I feel it's worth it. After five years, it's definitely worth the upgrade.'

Actor Vicky Kaushal Joins the Launch at BKC

Actor Vicky Kaushal was also present at the BKC Apple Store in Mumbai as sales commenced, adding a celebrity dimension to the already high-profile launch event.

With camera upgrades, a refreshed Siri with enhanced Apple Intelligence features, and hardware changes including the A20 chip and a new colour variant, the iPhone 18 series has clearly resonated with both annual upgraders and longer-cycle buyers — a breadth of appeal that Apple will be counting on to sustain momentum through the festive season.