iPhone 16 sale going live in India this week: Who should upgrade and who shouldn’t

Apple recently launched the iPhone 16 series, and it is now available for pre-order in India. If you are interested in buying the new iPhone 16, you can pre- reserve any model in the variant including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max by paying a token amount ahead of the official sale. The official sale is scheduled to go live starting September 20, 2024. While the series brings a lot of new upgrades and features, as part of launch sale, Apple is also offering attractive trade-in offers and no-cost EMI options to make upgrading easier for users.
However, with prices starting at Rs. 79,900 for the base model of the iPhone 16 and going up to Rs. 1,44,900 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the big question for many users is: should they upgrade? While upgrading to an iPhone depends on the user’s interest, there are few users who need to think about it urgently.
iPhone 16 series prices in India
The base model of the iPhone 16 starts at Rs. 79,900 for the 128GB variant, while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at Rs. 89,900. Both of these models are available in several vibrant colours, including Black, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine, and White.
On the premium end, the iPhone 16 Pro is priced at Rs. 1,19,900 for the base 128GB version, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at Rs. 1,44,900 for the 256GB model. These models come in titanium coloured finishes — Black Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, and White Titanium.
Interested buyers can avail of a Rs. 5,000 discount when using American Express, Axis Bank, or ICICI Bank cards. In addition, Apple is offering up to Rs. 67,500 in exchange value for old smartphones, which could significantly reduce the cost of upgrading. No-cost EMI options of 3 to 6 months are also available, making the higher price points more manageable.
But is the iPhone 16 worth upgrading? Well, it depends.
If you are using an older iPhone model, such as the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, or even the iPhone 7, now is the time to upgrade. Apple has made these devices obsolete in terms of software updates and security patches. This means that Apple no longer supports these models, leaving users exposed to vulnerabilities and unable to take advantage of the latest iOS features.
With the upgrade, The new iPhone 16 models which comes powered by Apple’s latest processors, will offer significantly faster performance, improved battery life, and advanced AI features like Apple Intelligence (though not available in local Indian languages until 2025). If you’re still using one of these older models, upgrading will provide a smoother, more secure experience.
Additionally, users seeking a major performance boost like the iPhone 8, iPhone X, or iPhone XS might want to consider an upgrade. While these models are still technically supported, they are nearing the end of their lifecycle in terms of software updates. The iPhone 16 series offers not only a performance boost but also improved cameras, better battery life, and enhanced connectivity features, including 5G.
If you own an iPhone 13 or later, including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series, there may not be a major compelling reason to upgrade just yet. These iPhone models are still well within their support lifecycle and continue to receive the latest iOS updates. The iPhone 14 Pro models, for instance, already offer exceptional camera performance, a 120Hz ProMotion display, and excellent battery life. Unless you’re someone who is absolutely into getting hands on to the latest technology, your current iPhone is more than capable of handling everything you throw at it, from multitasking to photography and gaming. Also if your current device is still functioning well and is supported by Apple, holding off on an upgrade could save you money in the long run.