With less than two months left until the anticipated launch of Apple’s iPhone 17 series, PTA-approved and tax-paid iPhone 16 prices in Pakistan have not dropped as much as expected. Despite a slight decrease from September and October rates, the decline is far below the usual pre-launch trend, where distributors slash prices to clear old stock.
Official Apple distributor Mercantile is still listing the iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB at Rs473,500, while some local retailers are offering the same model for as low as Rs443,000 — a price gap of over Rs30,000. Cheaper options are available in Desert Titanium, White, and Black, often with local warranties, which shopkeepers claim are genuine models identical to distributor stock.
Sales of the iPhone 16 series remain sluggish due to high costs and minimal upgrades over previous models. Many buyers believe the differences between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max are negligible, aside from size, performance, and slight camera improvements. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max continues to perform well in the local market, with customers choosing both PTA-approved and non-PTA versions to save money.
Retailers predict iPhone 16 prices may finally drop in late August or early September 2025. However, Apple has no official retail presence in Pakistan, meaning all iPhones are imported through distributors and shopkeepers.
For the upcoming iPhone 17, launch prices in Pakistan are expected to start around Rs400,000 for the base model and could reach Rs700,000 for the Pro Max. Despite government crackdowns, sources suggest JV (SIM-locked) and carrier-locked iPhone 17 models will likely appear in markets again, as seen in previous launches.
