In India, the new iPhone can arrive faster than a pizza

For some iPhone buyers in India, getting Apple’s brand-new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max did not require lining up outside a store or waiting days for delivery. They needed only a few taps on a quick-commerce app to get one delivered to their doorstep in about 10 minutes.

Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy’s Instamart, and BigBasket — platforms best known in India for delivering groceries and everyday essentials in minutes — began offering the new Pro models as they went on sale in the country on Friday. The phones are, however, also available through Apple’s usual sales channels, including its stores, authorized retailers, and online marketplaces.

Putting a new iPhone on a 10-minute delivery app is not entirely new in India. Quick-commerce platforms have offered Apple’s latest devices on launch day previously as well, as they have steadily expanded beyond groceries into categories including electronics, beauty products, and fashion.