If you are in the market for a new iPhone, this report will appeal to you. Apple is now going to honor iPhone warranties in India, irrespective of where you have bought the device from. This is big news since Apple s international warranties were previously restricted to products such as the MacBook, iPad, and iPod. Also Read - Apple iOS 14.2 public beta now available for supported iPhones and iPads

Apple s tweaked warranty terms would be applicable for any unlocked iPhone. You can buy a new iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or even the upcoming iPhone X from countries like the US, and have their one-year warranties honored in India. According to a person familiar with the matter, consumers could buy their iPhone from another country, and it will be serviced in India, if under warranty. The source added that in a similar example, there’s no clarity if such a service would be available if the consumer is based in a different country. For example, if someone buys a phone in the US and lives in Dubai, then the effective policy could be different. Also Read - Apple iPhone 12 price: You may get it at this cost, thanks to OLED display and 5G connectivity

What this means is Apple India will now honor warranties of iPhones purchased from the international market while they are under warranty. This doesn’t hint at a new global warranty program, but the ability to service iPhones you may have purchased internationally at a service center in India. Carrier-locked iPhones that are unlocked later using third-party sources will not be eligible for servicing.

Until now, if you went to an Indian service center with a device bought from any other country, it would not accept the warranty. You would then have to end up paying for whatever repairs that were needed. This tweak in Apple s India policy then comes as a huge relief. It is however unclear whether other countries are going to honor warranties of devices bought abroad.

This move by Apple couldn t have come at a better time, since its anniversary edition iPhone X is set to go on sale. For the first time, India is in the first wave of countries to get a new iPhone. Pre-orders for the iPhone X kick off in India tomorrow, and the device will go on sale on November 3. ALSO READ: Apple to ship 2-3 million units of iPhone X for November 3 launch: Ming-Chi Kuo

With Apple India now honoring international warranties, this is the best time to ask your friend, colleague or relative to buy you the latest iPhone from abroad. Just to put this scenario into perspective, prices for the iPhone X in India start from Rs 89,000 and go up to Rs 102,000 for the 256GB variant. But if you were to buy the iPhone X from the US, prices there start from $999 (Rs 65,000 approximately). With international warranty now applicable, this results in big-time savings. DON’T MISS: Apple iPhone 8 Plus review: The best. Period.

This move doesn t come as a big surprise either. On the global scale India has lately become a very important market for Apple. More so because growth in countries like US and China have stagnated. In the last few quarters, Apple in India has consistently recorded double-digit growth. During the last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook was quoted as saying, I m very, very bullish and very, very optimistic about India. ALSO READ: Apple iPhone 8 Review: When you know you want it, but still ask questions

Does this news bring about any change in your plans to buy the the next iPhone? Let us know in the comments section below.