iPhone Duo folds in at Rs 3 lakh: what that money could earn in mutual funds instead

Apple held its big event on September 9, called "Surprise and Shine" 2026. At the event, Apple launched 13 new products in all, including the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple Watch Series 12. Of all of them, the iPhone Duo drew the most attention.

The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable phone, opening and closing like a book. Unfolded, its screen measures 7.6 inches. It is being called the biggest change in Apple's history. Folded, it fits easily into a pocket. But its price has left everyone stunned. In India, the phone's starting price has been set at Rs 2,99,900, making it the most expensive iPhone yet. Bookings open on Apple's website in India on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:30 pm, and the phone will be available in stores from October 23.

Along with the iPhone Duo, Apple has also launched the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. These come with the new A20 Pro processor, built on 2nm technology. The company says performance is 35 percent better than older iPhones, whether for gaming or 4K video editing. The 256GB iPhone 18 Pro is priced at Rs 1,64,900, while the Pro Max costs Rs 1,79,900.

The question now is whether to buy the phone or invest the money. Spending Rs 3 lakh on a phone is a big decision, but what if that same Rs 3 lakh were put into a mutual fund instead of the phone.

If Rs 2,99,900 is invested for five years at an annual return of 12 percent, it would grow to Rs 3,35,888 at the end of the first year, Rs 3,76,194 at the end of the second year, Rs 4,21,337 at the end of the third year, Rs 4,71,897 at the end of the fourth year and Rs 5,28,526 at the end of the fifth year. That means the invested amount of Rs 2,99,900 would become Rs 5,28,526 after five years, a net profit of Rs 2,28,626.

If, instead of buying the iPhone 18 Pro, its Rs 1,64,900 were invested for five years, it would grow to about Rs 2,90,611, a gain of Rs 1,25,711. Investing the iPhone 18 Pro Max's Rs 1,79,900 would grow to Rs 3,17,046 in five years, a profit of Rs 1,37,146.

This is only an illustration. There is no guarantee that a mutual fund will return 12 percent. Markets move up and down, so returns could be lower or higher. So this calculation alone should not be the basis for an investment decision; that should be made only after consulting a financial adviser. But one thing is certain: putting that money into an investment instead of spending Rs 3 lakh on a phone to show off could pay off more in the future.