iPhone 7, iPhone 8 refuse to die in Pakistan’s used phone market

ISLAMABAD: As Apple recently launched the iPhone 17 series globally last month, the new lineup has already reached Pakistan through “authorised distributors” who are now selling it in PTA-approved form.

However, with prices of the latest iPhones soaring up to Rs900,000, many people in Pakistan are turning to older, more affordable models available in the local used mobile market, hoping that, like every year, the prices of previous iPhones may have dropped.

Surprisingly, even after nine years since its launch on September 16, 2016, the iPhone 7 Plus remains available and in demand. Despite being an ageing model, these phones continue to circulate in the used mobile market.

While some phones show battery deterioration or signs of wear, others are in good working condition with decent battery health. Many are refurbished, repaired, or have had their batteries replaced, yet they still serve users well.

PTA-approved iPhone 7 Plus price in Pakistan

In Pakistan, the price of a used iPhone 7 ranges from around Rs15,000 to Rs25,000, depending on the phone’s condition, storage capacity, and PTA approval status. The iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, is priced between Rs25,000 and Rs35,000, with PTA-approved models in decent condition starting from around Rs30,000 on OLX Pakistan..

PTA-approved iPhone 8 Plus price in Pakistan

Another popular model, the iPhone 8, can be found in the market starting from Rs18,000 to Rs27,000, while the iPhone 8 Plus ranges from Rs26,000 to Rs38,000, depending on condition, battery health, and included accessories. In short, those looking for a good PTA-approved iPhone 8 Plus can easily find one for under Rs38,000.

How Pakistanis are using old iPhones to receive calls on new non-PTA models

When asked about the demand for these older devices, several shopkeepers confirmed that people still actively look for 8–9-year-old iPhones, with the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus being the most sought-after models.

Haris Khan, who runs a mobile shop in Rawalpindi’s Singapore Plaza, said that these older iPhones are popular mainly because they are now the cheapest available options. “Even a PTA-approved iPhone 11 costs over Rs100,000, so older models are still a practical choice. Despite being nearly a decade old, they work fine for regular wifi and SIM use,” he explained.

Haris shared an interesting customer experience, saying, “A customer who came to buy a non-PTA iPhone Air, which costs around Rs350,000, also bought an iPhone 8 Plus.

His reasoning was that by using the same Apple ID, any call received on the PTA-approved iPhone 8 Plus would also appear on the non-PTA iPhone Air through Apple’s ecosystem. This way, his non-PTA iPhone Air could still receive calls.”

He added that similar practices are being followed by some customers buying the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max models. Since PTA approval for these devices can cost up to Rs200,000, some users temporarily buy an older PTA-approved iPhone 7 for around Rs25,000 to keep their SIM active until they can afford to register their new iPhone.

This, Haris noted, seems like a smarter workaround compared to purchasing “JV” or sim locked iPhones, which the PTA has declared illegal. Many buyers who cannot immediately pay for PTA approval prefer this method to stay connected while using their expensive non-PTA iPhones.