Every September, Apple drops a new iPhone and people line up to spend the equivalent of a small fortune. But here’s the kicker: the iPhone 17 Pro Max comes with a price tag of ₹2,29,900. That’s not just smartphone money — that’s wheels-on-a-motorcycle money. And with India’s EV revolution charging full speed ahead, you could actually get yourself a brand-new electric bike (and still have cash left for a good helmet).

Let’s do the math and the comparison — because why scroll Instagram in 4K when you could be cruising down the highway at 100 kmph?

iPhone 17: The Costly Pocket Pal

iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • Price: ₹2,29,900
  • Specs: Well, Apple didn’t say anything about a “Top Speed” or “Range,” but you can brag about Dynamic Island and AI-powered selfies.

Sure, it’s sleek, shiny, and fits in your pocket. But for that price, you could almost buy two electric bikes and still have money left for Maggi at a roadside stall in the mountains.

Electric Bikes You Can Buy Instead of the iPhone 17

1. Ultraviolette Tesseract

tesseract stealth black
tesseract stealth black
  • Price: ₹1.45 L
  • Battery: 6 kWh
  • Top Speed: 125 kmph
  • Range: 261 km
  • Motor Power: 20 hp
  • Charging: 20-80% in less than 30 minutes

This one screams performance. In less time than it takes to download an iOS update, your Tesseract can be ready to hit the road again.

2. Oben Rorr

Oben Rorr
Oben Rorr
  • Price: ₹1.50 L
  • Battery: 4.4 kWh
  • Top Speed: 100 kmph
  • Range: 187 km
  • Motor Power: 8 kW
  • Charging: 0-80% in 2 hours

A well-rounded bike with a balance of speed and range. Bonus: it doesn’t require you to stand in an Apple Store queue at 6 AM.

3. Hero Vida VX2

vida vx2 launched
vida vx2 launched
  • Price: ₹1.10 L (or ₹57,990 + ₹0.90/km under BaaS model)
  • Battery: 3.4 kWh
  • Top Speed: 80 kmph
  • Range: 142 km
  • Motor Power: 6 kW
  • Charging: 0-80% in 1 hr

Think of this as the budget-friendly Netflix subscription version of an EV. Pay less upfront, and just ride.

4. Ola S1 Pro Sport

OLA S1 Pro Sport
OLA S1 Pro Sport
  • Price: ₹1.50 L
  • Battery: 5.2 kWh
  • Top Speed: 141 kmph
  • Range: 320 km
  • Motor Power: 5.5 kW

This one might make you forget the iPhone completely. Why? Because while your iPhone gets hot from binge-watching Netflix, this electric scooter actually burns rubber with its 141 kmph speed.

5. Ather Rizta Z

rizta
rizta
  • Price: ₹1.54 L
  • Battery: 3.7 kWh
  • Top Speed: 80 kmph
  • Range: 159 km
  • Motor Power: 4.3 kW
  • Charging: 0-80% in 4 hr 18 min

Ather plays it safe: reliable, smart, and efficient. Basically, the “iPhone” of the EV world — except you can actually ride it.

The Verdict: Phone or Bike?

For ₹2,29,900, you could:

  • Buy an iPhone 17 and get a digital dopamine hit.
  • Or buy an Ultraviolette Tesseract AND a Vida VX2, ride across cities, and still FaceTime your friends to show them the view from your bike.

Bonus: You can actually save a lot through an EV which means that the iPhone is not entirely out of question yet!

At the end of the day, it’s simple: if you want Instagram likes, buy the iPhone. If you want real-life adventures, get the e-bike. Because let’s be honest — “Sent from my iPhone 17” sounds cool, but “Sorry, took an impromptu trip to the mountains” sounds way cooler.