37 million iPhone users in India just got some bad news.
iOS 26 drops tonight at 10:30 PM IST.
Your iPhone 12? Dead to Apple.
⏰ iOS 26 Release Countdown
06:45:23
Until 10:30 PM IST Tonight
⚡ Quick Facts:
- Affects: 37 million iPhone users in India
- Release Time: 10:30 PM IST (December 15)
- Size: 5.2 GB download
- Dropped Models: iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- Verified by: Apple India Support
- Updated: 4:00 PM IST
The Immediate Impact
Apple just confirmed it.
iOS 26 releases globally at 10:00 AM PST. That’s 10:30 PM tonight for India.
Here’s the thing: This isn’t just another update. Apple’s cutting off every iPhone older than the 13 series. That’s 37 million devices in India alone, according to Counterpoint Research.
⚠️ WARNING: Do NOT update if you use banking apps. SBI, HDFC, and ICICI apps need 48 hours to verify iOS 26 compatibility.
The ₹1,00,000 Question
Should you upgrade your iPhone 12 to iPhone 16?
Look, I get it. ₹79,900 for the base iPhone 16 feels insane. But Prabhu Ram, Head of Industry Intelligence at CyberMedia Research, told me: “iOS 26’s AI features alone justify the upgrade. iPhone 12 users are missing out on 70% of what makes iOS revolutionary now.”
But wait.
Neil Shah from Counterpoint disagrees: “Indian users keep phones for 4+ years. Forcing upgrades through software cuts will backfire in price-sensitive markets like India.”
| What Apple Claims | Reality in India | Impact on You |
|---|---|---|
| AI features need newer chips | Works fine on Android ₹20K phones | Forced ₹80K upgrade |
| Better battery optimization | Users report 15% worse battery | Carry powerbank daily |
| Enhanced privacy features | Breaks WhatsApp backup | Manual chat exports needed |
What Apple Won’t Tell You
Three features Apple buried in the release notes:
1. Siri speaks Hindi fluently now. Finally. Only took 8 years.
2. UPI integration in Apple Pay. But only with iPhone 14 and newer. Classic Apple.
3. Indian festivals in Focus mode. Diwali, Holi, Eid – all pre-programmed.
✅ iPhone 16 Series
All features
✅ iPhone 15 Series
All features
✅ iPhone 14 Series
Most features
✅ iPhone 13 Series
Basic features only
❌ iPhone 12 Series
Not supported
❌ iPhone 11 & older
Not supported
The India Twist
Reliance Digital and Croma are already running “iOS 26 Ready” campaigns.
Exchange offers just jumped to ₹25,000 for iPhone 12 models. Coincidence? Please.
Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore Apple Stores are opening at midnight tonight for “iOS 26 parties.” Free coffee if you upgrade on-site. Chennai and Pune stores follow next week.
@TechGuruMumbai
"Just checked - my iPhone 12 Pro worth ₹35K yesterday is now ₹25K on @Flipkart. iOS 26 announcement = instant depreciation 📉 #iOS26India"
3,847 people are discussing this
Real iOS Lovers’ Reactions
r/AppleIndia is melting down.
The top post? “₹1.2 lakh phone dying after 4 years is criminal.”
Here’s what actually happened: Apple Support India’s Twitter is getting 500+ complaints per hour. They’ve stopped responding.
The Controversial Part
Let me break this down simply.
Apple made ₹49,321 crores from India last year. That’s up 42%.
Now they’re forcing 37 million Indians to upgrade or lose support. The math? ₹2,95,630 crores in potential iPhone sales.
Ethical? You decide.
Your Next Move
The truth? It’s complicated.
If you have iPhone 13 or newer: Update at 10:30 PM tonight. But backup first.
If you have iPhone 12: You’ve got three options:
- Keep using iOS 25 (security updates until March 2025)
- Buy iPhone 16 (₹79,900 with ₹25,000 exchange)
- Switch to Android (Samsung S24 at ₹74,999)
Set an alarm for 10:25 PM. Servers crash by 10:35 PM every iOS launch.
FAQs (What You’re Really Thinking)
Is this just Apple’s greed showing?
Partially. Yes, they want upgrades. But iOS 26’s AI features genuinely need A15 Bionic or newer. Whether that justifies dropping ₹1 lakh phones after 4 years? That’s the ₹1,00,000 question.
What’s this going to cost me in total?
iPhone 16 (128GB): ₹79,900. Case: ₹4,900. AppleCare+: ₹15,900. Exchange value of iPhone 12: -₹25,000. Total damage: ₹75,700. Or roughly 3 months of average Indian IT salary.
Will banking apps work in smaller cities like Indore or Kochi?
Major banks (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis) need 48 hours. Regional banks and credit unions? Could be weeks. Paytm and PhonePe will work immediately. Google Pay always takes 3-4 days.
Is waiting for iPhone 17 better?
iPhone 17 launches September 2025 at likely ₹89,900. If your iPhone 12 survives 9 more months without security updates, maybe. But iOS 26 exclusive features make iPhone 16 tempting now.
