The hype around the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is at an all-time high following their launch, with early units already reaching Pakistan at steep prices.
Despite Apple having no official retail presence or Apple Store in Pakistan, the company has a large and loyal customer base in the country. This has created strong demand for new iPhone models, even though they are among the most expensive smartphones available.
The first batches of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have now arrived in Pakistan through private imports. However, limited availability has pushed asking prices sharply higher, with some shopkeepers reportedly selling early iPhone 18 Pro units for as much as Rs800,000.
At the time of writing, getting an iPhone 18 Pro in Pakistan remains difficult, particularly for buyers looking to purchase one of the first units. Some customers who received their phones on Saturday morning reportedly paid a significant premium to become among the first iPhone 18 Pro users in the country.
It is important to note that the iPhone 18 Pro units currently being imported through these channels are non-PTA-approved devices.
Some shopkeepers are now advising customers to wait before buying at the current inflated prices. They argue that buyers who purchase non-PTA units now could end up paying a much higher price than necessary once official distribution channels begin bringing larger stocks into Pakistan.
According to a statement attributed to Shandar Mobile, which has circulated widely online, PTA-approved iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models could be available at more “reasonable” prices once companies such as Mercantile begin supplying the local market.
The argument is that increased stock would reduce the premium currently being charged for scarce imported units. Once distributors begin supplying the market, buyers could have more options instead of paying extra simply to secure an early unit.
iPhone 18 Pro Max price in Pakistan
In Islamabad, the asking price for the iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB dual eSIM non-PTA model is currently Rs600,000.
This means early buyers are paying a substantial premium for limited availability. Based on the expected local pricing, some sellers could be making more than Rs250,000 on a single non-PTA device, although actual profit margins may vary depending on the import cost and other expenses.
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