{"id":3810,"date":"2008-08-21T00:04:18","date_gmt":"2008-08-20T18:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=3810"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:31:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:01:33","slug":"apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhone 3G Price in India: The Rs 31,000 Launch in 2008 and Buying Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Apple iPhone officially reached India in August 2008, and the <strong>iPhone 3G price in India<\/strong> started at Rs 31,000 for the 8GB model. This article recalls how the iPhone 3G launched in India through Vodafone and Airtel, what it cost, what happened to the phone, and how to buy an iPhone in India today.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67069\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/iphone-3g-price-india-2026-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"iPhone 3G price in India: the 2008 launch story\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/iphone-3g-price-india-2026-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/iphone-3g-price-india-2026-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/iphone-3g-price-india-2026-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/iphone-3g-price-india-2026-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/iphone-3g-price-india-2026.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The iPhone 3G launched in India on 22 August 2008 at Rs 31,000 for the 8GB model and Rs 36,100 for the 16GB model, sold by Vodafone and Airtel, with data and voice plans extra. Apple stopped selling it in 2010 and its last software update was iOS 4.2.1. Today you buy iPhones in India from Apple&#8217;s own stores and online store, or from authorized resellers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad931de66fd6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad931de66fd6\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#iPhone_3G_price_in_India_in_2008\" >iPhone 3G price in India in 2008<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#How_the_iPhone_3G_launched_in_India\" >How the iPhone 3G launched in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#What_happened_to_the_iPhone_3G\" >What happened to the iPhone 3G?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#How_to_buy_an_iPhone_in_India_today\" >How to buy an iPhone in India today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#What_was_the_iPhone_3G_price_in_India\" >What was the iPhone 3G price in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#When_did_the_iPhone_launch_in_India\" >When did the iPhone launch in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#Can_I_still_use_an_iPhone_3G\" >Can I still use an iPhone 3G?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-price-in-india\/#Where_can_I_buy_an_iPhone_in_India_now\" >Where can I buy an iPhone in India now?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"iPhone_3G_price_in_India_in_2008\"><\/span>iPhone 3G price in India in 2008<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Vodafone announced the price of the Apple iPhone 3G in India first. The 8GB iPhone and 16GB iPhone cost Rs 31,000 and Rs 36,100 in Delhi, and you had to pay extra for data and voice plans. That was expensive, and I felt the price would definitely limit sales in India.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Model<\/th>\n<th>Launch price in India (2008)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>iPhone 3G 8GB<\/td>\n<td>Rs 31,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>iPhone 3G 16GB<\/td>\n<td>Rs 36,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Airtel matched the same prices when it launched the phone. Shortly after announcing the price, Vodafone removed it from its web page for a while, which made many people wonder whether it was rethinking the pricing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_the_iPhone_3G_launched_in_India\"><\/span>How the iPhone 3G launched in India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The iPhone was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/apple-iphone-3g-india\/\">released in India on 22 August 2008<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/05\/vodafone-sells-apple-iphone-in-india\/\">Vodafone<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/05\/apple-iphone-in-india-now-on-airtel\/\">Airtel<\/a> were the two operators that officially sold it. People compared the Indian prices with the subsidized iPhone plans on AT&amp;T in the US, which made the Indian price look even higher.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3655\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/buy-iphone.gif\" alt=\"Buy the Apple iPhone 3G in India\" width=\"300\" height=\"183\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Vodafone had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/06\/vodafone-preregisters-iphones-in-india\/\">opened pre-registration<\/a> for the iPhone. If you had pre-registered, you could get the iPhone before others:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Visit a selected Vodafone store between 20 and 21 August 2008.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm the booking by paying a Rs 10,000 deposit in cash or by credit card and showing the booking SMS.<\/li>\n<li>Get an appointment from 22 August for a full demonstration, then collect the iPhone 3G, set up with your contacts and settings, by paying the balance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>You needed a Vodafone connection to use its iPhone plans. Stocks were limited and sold on a first come, first served basis, and the launch-day buzz brought the long queues everyone expected.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_to_the_iPhone_3G\"><\/span>What happened to the iPhone 3G?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The iPhone 3G was first released on 11 July 2008, with 8GB and 16GB models, 3G data and GPS. It was followed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/06\/new-apple-iphone-3g-s\/\">iPhone 3GS<\/a> in June 2009, and Apple discontinued the iPhone 3G in June 2010. Its last software update was iOS 4.2.1, released in November 2010.<\/p>\n<p>An iPhone 3G cannot run current apps or get security updates, so today it is a collector&#8217;s item rather than a usable phone.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_buy_an_iPhone_in_India_today\"><\/span>How to buy an iPhone in India today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Apple&#8217;s own stores.<\/strong> Apple now sells directly in India through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple India online store<\/a> and its retail stores, so you no longer need to buy through a mobile operator.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Authorized resellers.<\/strong> Large electronics chains and online stores also sell iPhones with an Indian warranty.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check the current lineup and prices<\/strong> on Apple&#8217;s India website, as models and prices change every year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Watch for bank offers and trade-ins.<\/strong> Card cashback and exchange offers can lower the price.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Prices are now shown with the \u20b9 symbol; if you need it, see how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/07\/type-indian-rupee-symbol-with-keyboard-key\/\">type the rupee symbol<\/a> on any keyboard.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_the_iPhone_3G_price_in_India\"><\/span>What was the iPhone 3G price in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It launched at Rs 31,000 for the 8GB model and Rs 36,100 for the 16GB model, with data and voice plans extra.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_did_the_iPhone_launch_in_India\"><\/span>When did the iPhone launch in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The iPhone 3G was the first iPhone officially sold in India, launched on 22 August 2008 by Vodafone and Airtel.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_still_use_an_iPhone_3G\"><\/span>Can I still use an iPhone 3G?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not for everyday use. Its last update was iOS 4.2.1 in 2010, and current apps do not support it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_can_I_buy_an_iPhone_in_India_now\"><\/span>Where can I buy an iPhone in India now?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>From Apple&#8217;s online store and retail stores in India, or from authorized resellers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Apple iPhone officially reached India in August 2008, and the iPhone 3G price in India started at Rs 31,000&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":67069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,15],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-3810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple","category-gadgets","tag-india"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3810"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67073,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3810\/revisions\/67073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}