Apple’s iPhone 15 has suddenly slipped into a price bracket few expected this early. During Croma’s Cromtastic December Sale, the phone can be bought at an effective price of ₹36,490, thanks to a layered mix of discounts, cashback, and exchange benefits that has caught buyers’ attention just ahead of the new year.
For many shoppers, this feels like a rare window.
The offer is available at Croma’s physical stores across India between December 15 and January 4, though prices and benefits may differ online. On paper, the deal looks simple. In practice, it’s a stack.
How the iPhone 15 drops from ₹56,490 to ₹36,490
At first glance, the numbers don’t seem to line up.
The in-store price of the Apple iPhone 15 during the sale is ₹56,490. That’s already below its original launch price, but the real reduction happens only when multiple benefits are combined.
Croma is offering a ₹2,000 instant cashback on select bank cards. That brings the effective price down a notch, but not dramatically.
The bigger cut comes from exchanges.
Customers trading in an eligible old smartphone can receive an exchange value of up to ₹14,000, depending on the model and condition. On top of that, Croma is adding an exchange bonus of up to ₹4,000.
Put together, the math works like this:
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In-store price: ₹56,490
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Bank cashback: ₹2,000
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Exchange value: up to ₹14,000
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Exchange bonus: up to ₹4,000
That combination pulls the final payable amount down to ₹36,490 in the best-case scenario.
One sentence makes it clear though. Not everyone will hit that exact number.
The final price depends heavily on the phone you’re exchanging and the bank card you use.
Why Croma is pushing hard on in-store deals
The sale is being positioned as an in-store-first event.
Croma has made it clear that prices and offers may vary on its website. That’s not unusual, but it signals a broader retail push to bring foot traffic back into physical stores during the holiday season.
Sales staff can inspect exchange devices instantly. Buyers can see the handset, feel the weight, check colors, and walk out with the phone the same day. For premium devices, that still matters to a lot of people.
The Cromtastic December Sale also spans a wide range of high-end smartphones, but the iPhone 15 stands out because of how low the effective price drops compared to its original positioning.
Basically, it’s a flagship wearing a mid-range tag, at least for a few weeks.
Why the iPhone 15 still makes sense in late 2025
The iPhone 15 is no longer Apple’s newest release. That title belongs elsewhere now. Still, the phone hasn’t aged badly.
In daily use, it remains smooth, fast, and familiar. The switch to USB-C brought it in line with broader charging standards, which many users appreciate. Camera performance, especially for video and low-light shots, continues to hold up well against newer rivals.
For buyers upgrading from phones that are three or four years old, the difference is immediate.
You get:
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A bright OLED display with strong outdoor visibility
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A dependable main camera that handles most scenarios well
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Long-term software support from Apple
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Solid build quality that doesn’t feel dated
At ₹36,490, expectations shift. The phone doesn’t need to be the best Apple has ever made. It just needs to be good enough for the next few years.
For many, it is.
How this pricing stacks up against other iPhones
The timing of the deal is interesting.
Other iPhone models are also seeing discounts across platforms, but most still sit well above the iPhone 15’s effective sale price at Croma.
The iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, and Pro Max remain significantly more expensive. Even the iPhone 14, which launched a generation earlier, is often listed at higher prices on major online marketplaces.
That creates an unusual overlap.
A newer phone, at a lower effective price, with longer software life ahead of it.
That’s not something buyers see often in Apple’s lineup, especially through offline retail.
One sentence keeps popping up among shoppers: “This feels like a correction.”
The fine print buyers should pay attention to
Deals like this always come with conditions.
The ₹36,490 figure assumes a high-value exchange and eligibility for the maximum bonus. Phones with cracked screens, battery issues, or older models may fetch far less. Bank cashback is also limited to specific cards, which varies by store.
There’s also the matter of stock.
Popular colors and storage variants can sell out quickly during in-store sales. Availability can differ by city, and not all Croma outlets carry the same inventory.
Buyers are being advised, informally, to check with their nearest store before making the trip.
One short reminder fits here. Always ask for the final bill breakup before agreeing to the exchange.
Why holiday timing matters for this sale
December is a pressure month for retailers.
Year-end targets, festive spending, and new launches on the horizon all collide. Clearing inventory without looking desperate is a delicate balance, especially with premium products.
For Apple devices, heavy discounting is rare and usually structured through layered offers rather than straight price cuts. This sale follows that pattern.
Croma gets footfall. Banks get transactions. Apple moves units without officially slashing prices.
Everyone wins, at least on paper.
For buyers sitting on the fence, the timing lines up neatly with year-end bonuses, upgrades, and gifting season decisions.
What this signals for smartphone pricing in 2026
The iPhone 15 deal may also hint at a broader shift.
Competition in the premium smartphone space has intensified, with Android brands pushing aggressive pricing and feature-packed devices. Retailers are responding by finding creative ways to move high-end stock faster.
While Apple rarely comments on pricing strategies at the retail level, consumers are noticing that flagship phones are becoming more accessible sooner than before.
That trend may continue.
For now, though, this deal stands out because of its simplicity. Bring an old phone. Use the right card. Walk out with an iPhone 15 at a price that once felt unrealistic.
