Apple iPhone 16 for Under ₹27,000? Here's How a Redditor Made It Happen

A recent Reddit post has caught the attention of internet users, showing how one savvy shopper managed to buy the latest iPhone 16 256GB variant for just ₹26,970. This is a huge discount from the phone's retail price of ₹89,900, and it all comes down to credit card reward points.

While the deal seems almost too good to be true, it highlights the potential savings available when credit cards are used strategically.

The Power of Reward Points

The Reddit user, who goes by the name Wild_Muscle3506, shared their experience of purchasing the iPhone 16 by leveraging reward points accumulated through their HDFC Infinia credit card. The user was able to redeem ₹62,930 worth of reward points, reducing the final cost of the iPhone to just ₹26,970. This incredible deal sparked a lot of interest, as the iPhone 16 only launched last month, and such a steep discount is rare for newly released Apple products.

However, accumulating enough points to achieve this level of discount is no small feat. The user explained that earning over ₹62,000 worth of reward points required spending a significant amount, estimated to be around ₹15 lakh over time. This makes the deal highly specific to those who have high spending on their credit cards and access to premium reward programs like HDFC's Infinia.

Credit Card Strategy: A Long Game

While it's easy to get excited about such discounts, it's important to understand the strategy behind it. High-end credit cards, like the HDFC Infinia, come with an annual fee of ₹10,000 and require large transactions to accumulate substantial reward points. The user mentioned that they accumulated points over time, using them not just for the iPhone but also for other purchases like flights.

This isn't a strategy for everyone, as it involves consistently high spending to earn rewards, and many other credit cards may not offer such significant point accumulation opportunities. Still, for those who use their credit cards wisely and pay off their balances on time, the rewards can add up to significant savings.

iPhone 16: What You're Getting

For those still considering the iPhone 16, it comes packed with features that make it one of the top smartphones available. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, boasting a peak brightness of 2000 nits. Powered by Apple's A18 chipset and paired with 8GB of RAM, the phone delivers impressive performance. Storage options range up to 512GB, with the 256GB variant being one of the most popular.

On the camera front, the iPhone 16 offers a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens with autofocus, making it a great choice for photography enthusiasts. The front-facing camera is a 12-megapixel shooter, ideal for high-quality selfies. The phone also comes with a 3561mAh battery, which should comfortably last through a day of heavy use.