It's that time of year again! Black Friday is upon us, and the deals are coming in hot. If you've been holding out for a new iPhone, your patience is about to pay off in a big way. Retailers like Croma and Vijay Sales have kicked off their annual sales, and one offer in particular has everyone talking: the brand-new iPhone 17 for under Rs 46,000. Let's break down whether this headline-grabbing deal is really as good as it sounds.
Key Highlights
- ✓ The new iPhone 17 is available for an effective price of Rs 45,900 during the Croma Black Friday sale.
- ✓ For the first time, the base iPhone model gets a silky-smooth 120Hz ProMotion display.
- ✓ The ultra-slim iPhone Air is part of a viral deal, despite its smaller battery and single camera.
- ✓ Vijay Sales is also hosting a Mega Black Friday Sale with iPhones starting from Rs 39,900.
- ✓ Major bank offers from HDFC, HSBC, American Express, and more provide substantial extra savings.
The iPhone 17 Deal That's Breaking the Internet
Let's get right to it. The iPhone 17, which launched just back in September, is seeing a massive price drop during the Croma Black Friday Sale. The phone, which normally carries a price tag of Rs 82,900, can be yours for an effective price of just Rs 45,900. It almost sounds too good to be true, but here’s how the math works out.
First, you get a Rs 1,000 bank cashback. Then, if you're trading in an old device, Croma is offering an additional Rs 7,000 as an exchange bonus. On top of that, your old device could fetch you up to Rs 29,000 in exchange value. When you stack all those discounts, the price plummets. But you'll have to act fast—this offer is only valid until November 30.
Is the iPhone 17 Worth the Hype? 5 Reasons to Say Yes
So, the price is right, but what about the phone itself? The iPhone 17 is being called one of the best vanilla iPhones in years, and for good reason. It finally addresses some of the biggest complaints users have had for generations. Here's a look at why this phone is a fantastic buy, especially at this price point.
A Display Worth Waiting For
For years, we've watched as even mid-range Android phones sported high-refresh-rate screens while the base iPhone was stuck at 60Hz. Well, the wait is over! Apple finally brought its ProMotion display technology to the iPhone 17, meaning you get a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone, the difference in fluidity when scrolling and navigating is something you'll notice immediately.
Power Under the Hood
iPhones have always been performance beasts, and the iPhone 17 continues that legacy with the new A19 chipset. While the Pro models get the slightly beefier A19 Pro, the standard A19 is more than capable of handling anything you can throw at it. From heavy multitasking to long gaming sessions, this device won't break a sweat, ensuring a snappy experience for years to come.
Selfie Game Strong
This year, Apple introduced a feature called the Centre Stage selfie camera, and it’s a game-changer for group photos. It allows you to take group selfies in landscape mode without having to awkwardly rotate your phone. The iPhone 17 uses the exact same 18-megapixel selfie shooter as the more expensive Pro models, so your Instagram shots will look absolutely fantastic.
Battery Life and Charging Boost
While Apple never reveals official battery capacities, the iPhone 17 delivers on its promise of all-day battery life. In real-world usage, it can last around 11 hours on average, which is pretty impressive. Even better, the base iPhone finally gets support for 40W wired charging. This means you can juice up from 0 to 50 percent in about 20 minutes. Just remember, you'll need to buy a compatible adapter separately.
The One Big Catch with the iPhone 17
Now for the catch. As great as the iPhone 17 is, it does miss out on one key feature that has become standard on most flagships: a telephoto camera. The device sticks with a dual-camera setup, featuring a 48-megapixel main lens and a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens. While these cameras are excellent, the lack of a dedicated optical zoom lens will be a noticeable omission for anyone serious about photography. If you love taking zoomed-in shots, this might be the one reason you'd consider skipping it.
What's the Deal with the iPhone Air?
Another deal at Croma that's taken social media by storm is the one for the iPhone Air. This phone is an engineering marvel, designed to be one of Apple’s slimmest smartphones ever at just 5.6 mm thick and weighing only 156 grams. It’s powered by the top-tier A19 Pro chipset and features a gorgeous 6.5-inch OLED display with ProMotion.
Here's the thing, though: the iPhone Air had a pretty lukewarm reception when it launched. Its ultra-slim design came with compromises. The battery is smaller, raising concerns about all-day usability for heavy users. It also has a single 48 MP rear camera, which, while capable, lacks the versatility of multi-lens systems found in competitors. This is likely why its sales were slower than expected, and now, this deep discount is reigniting interest. It’s a classic case of a price cut making people reconsider a product's trade-offs.
Beyond iPhones: Vijay Sales' Tech Bonanza
Of course, Croma isn't the only player in the game. Vijay Sales has rolled out its Mega Black Friday Sale, running from November 20 until Cyber Monday. They have some incredible offers across a massive range of electronics. iPhones start at just Rs 39,900, and iPads are available from Rs 30,500. It’s a great opportunity to grab a whole ecosystem of Apple products at a lower price.
But the sale goes far beyond Apple. Laptops start at Rs 25,790, with gaming laptops seeing discounts of up to 40%. TVs are a steal, starting at Rs 8,490 with up to 65% off. And if you're in the market for audio gear, Truly Wireless Earbuds are up to 70% off. They also have massive deals on home appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
Don't Forget the Extra Savings
What makes the Vijay Sales event even more compelling are the stacked bank offers. Customers with cards from HDFC Bank, American Express, HSBC, OneCard, and IDFC FIRST Bank can get additional instant discounts, some going up to Rs 20,000 on EMI transactions. Plus, their free MyVS Rewards Program gives you 0.75% of your purchase value back as points, adding even more value to every purchase.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: Black Friday 2025 is shaping up to be an amazing time for tech lovers. The Croma deal on the iPhone 17 is genuinely incredible, offering a near-Pro experience for a mid-range price. While the lack of a telephoto lens is a valid concern for photographers, for most people, it's an absolute powerhouse. The iPhone Air deal is also tempting, as long as you can live with its design-driven compromises. And with Vijay Sales offering massive discounts across the board, there's a deal out there for just about everyone. Happy shopping!
