New Delhi, Oct. 29 -- The iPhone 17 became the largest-selling Apple smartphone in the first month of launch in India, according to market researchers, as a new edition overshadows older models for the first time, mirroring the country's growing importance for the company.

Sales were 15-20% higher than earlier models in the first 30 days, Bernstein, Counterpoint and IDC estimated. Counterpoint's projections showed that the iPhone 17 accounted for 57% of all iPhones sold-the highest-ever adoption of Apple's latest generation smartphone in India to date.

Until the iPhone 17 launch, older models dominated sales even after new launches, according to IDC and Counterpoint. While these will still account for the majority of sales in fiscal yea...