Economist Sanjeev Sanyal raised questions about the hype surrounding the launch of Apple’s iPhone 16 in India.

What Happened: In a post on Thursday, Sanyal suggested that the long queues of people waiting to purchase the new iPhone could be a PR stunt by Apple. “Long wondered if Apple hires people to do it as a PR stunt…… mobile phones are as mundane as ice-cream nowadays, but no one shows up to queue for a new flavour,” he wrote.

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His comment was in response to a tweet showing a long queue of people waiting to buy the newly launched iPhone 16. However, a lot of people replied to his post stating that the hype is indeed real. A netizen with the username guyfromvalley said that getting a new phone these days is also about showing people around you that you own one.

“Ha ha ha. No Sanjeev, the craze has been real for years. We live for others now, a new phone is as much about owning one as it is about letting others know that we own it,” he said in a reply.

Another user said that while Apple might not be involved in hiring people, they might be creating an inventory squeeze. “I'm sure Apple does not do that. Instead, it creates an inventory squeeze initially, which in turn creates a launch day frenzy, FOMO and euphoria. Though the products are as mundane as they get, the frenzy has lived on. Sigh!,” the reply stated.

Another user by the name of Chittukuruvi shared a funny take stating “If Apple starts making Ice creams and sells, believe me, there will be a big line.”

The launch of the iPhone 16 in India has generated significant buzz, with people reportedly standing in line for up to 21 hours to purchase the device. This frenzy has been witnessed across Apple stores in Mumbai and Delhi.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.