New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- Ahead of the highly anticipated iPhone 18 launch, all eyes are once again on Apple. But with the company's flagship iPhones commanding premium prices, the launch also raises an interesting question for consumers: what if, instead of buying an iPhone, you had invested the same money in Apple shares?

While comparing the iPhone, a depreciating consumer asset, to Apple stock, i.e., equity, may seem odd, this comparison offers an interesting contrast between the value created by owning a product and owning the company's stock. Critics may even dub it an "apple-to-apple" comparison.

Apple closed at around $234 on September 9, 2025, around the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro. Since then, the stock has risen sharply to $320, r...