India Regulator Probes Apple Over iOS 18 Warranty

India's CCPA notified Apple on July 29, 2026 that it escalated its probe over iOS 18 warranty terms to a detailed investigation. Complaints describe green, pink or white screen lines and microphone failures after the late-2024 update, with users then paying for repairs under Apple's no-software-warranty licence. An iPhone 15 screen repair costs about 27,900 rupees, over a third of retail price. Apple held 9% of India's iPhone market last year, up from 4% in 2022. Contested claims: Apple's Aug. 20 reply and private August letter say software exclusions follow global practice, the case rests on 75 complaints, only 11% of iPhones still ran iOS 18 by June 2026, and it found no systemic iOS 18 issues or safety concerns in India. The CCPA said the case involves alleged consumer-rights violations and that charging for issues from the company's negligence violates fair trade. Kirti Mahapatra said the CCPA can require accurate customer information and could seek term changes, though that would be unprecedented. Next steps remain open: investigators can seek documents and hold hearings; possible results include fines, refunds or business-practice changes.