New Apple Store in India unveils all-in-one Genius Bar and Pickup, pioneering a new retail model

Apple’s newest retail location in Bengaluru is more than just another store, it’s a testing ground for a reimagined service experience.

At Apple Hebbal, the company has replaced the familiar separation of the Genius Bar and Pickup counter with a single, unified hub. The idea is simple: customers shouldn’t have to decide whether to queue for support or pickup. Instead, one streamlined space handles both, offering a faster and more intuitive flow.

This shift signals a deeper rethink of how Apple interacts with its customers inside its physical stores. By consolidating two of its busiest functions, the company is aiming to eliminate friction points and make the in-store visit less segmented. Early versions of this design have quietly appeared in select global locations, but Hebbal is one of the clearest demonstrations yet of Apple’s intention to make it part of its future blueprint.

Situated at Phoenix Mall of Asia, the 8,000-square-foot store is staffed by 70 employees drawn from across India, but its real standout isn’t its size or location, it’s the way it reorganizes customer experience at the ground level. Apple Hebbal shows that the company’s retail strategy is evolving beyond architecture and aesthetics, turning attention to the practical side of how people move through the store.

If this model proves successful in Bengaluru, it’s likely only the beginning of a wider rollout. Apple is using Hebbal not just to sell products but to test how a redefined Genius Bar can set the tone for a new era of retail service.