iPhone 17 Craze Among Youth: Rising prices and the dark side of Smartphone aspirations

The iPhone remains an immensely popular device among Indian youth, where Apple’s latest releases can create aspiration products. But the high cost, social gunwarmth and want for the finest device has additionally left a query regarding the farthest desires consumers can go. The new iPhone 17 is now available in India, priced at Rs 82,900 for Rs 256GB model and priced at Rs 79,900 for the Rs 512GB variant. Since then Apple had adjusted the pricing in India and the same model is starting at Rs 99,900. The 512GB variant is priced at Rs 1,02,900.

Without the iPhone, many young purchasers would probably not own one. It can stand for status, social identity, superior photography and a lifestyle surrounding high tech. The 6.3-inch ProMotion display and the iPhone 17 having 48MP camera system, integrated with iPhone’s A19 chip, have enhanced the iPhone’s appeal even more.

Such demands, however, can create serious emotional and financial situations as illustrated by a tragic incident in Maharashtra recently. To make a long story short, an 18 year old is said to have killed himself last night because his parents would not buy an iPhone for him. He jumped from a hill, but his parents pleaded with him for hours to leave, reports said.

The case was followed by another reported case where a 30-year-old man allegedly took his own life due to EMI-related financial trouble with the iPhone, which was then rescued.

These incidents are no other than a problem with the iPhone. Concurrently, there are many general issues of financial stress, social comparison, consumerism and mental well-being. The feeling of worth and future can be filled with material things, which is something that has to be replaced or postponed, or with a smart phone, which can be replaced or postponed.

While ‘premium’ handsets are every day becoming aspirational amongst young Indians, there is a need for the families and the young customers to come to this purchase with realistic expectations instead of social ‘pressure’.