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Can you afford a smartphone above Rs 1 lakh? Understand the new math of premium phone ownership

The Rs 1 lakh smartphone is no longer an unusual purchase in India. The latest premium flagships, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, have pushed smartphone prices firmly into a range where the payment method can be as important as the device itself. At the same time, financing is becoming increasingly common. According to Counterpoint Researchs Monthly Smartphone Financing Tracker, the average smartphone financing tenure in Indias mainline channel reached 10 months in Q2 2026, while Apple recorded the highest average tenure among smartphone brands at 17.2 months.