Globally, China is the country with the lowest price of the iPhone 15 base model (128GB). In Turkiye, the most expensive model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max 1 TB costs more than 4.5 million won. In Korea, the iPhone base model (128 GB) has a price tag of 1.25 million won.
On Sept. 14, market research firm Nukeni announced iPhone 15 launch prices in 35 countries around the world.
Based on the won-dollar exchange rate on the morning of Sept. 14, the iPhone 15 base model (128GB) is priced at 1,058,822 won in China. In second place is the United States (1,100,970 won), and in third place is Japan (1,124,956 won). Korea (1.25 million won) ranked 11th with a price 14.1 percent higher compared to China.
The country with the cheapest iPhone 15 Plus (128GB) is the United States (1,233,777 won). It is followed by Japan (1,260,167 won) and China (1,278,498 won). Korea (1.35 million won) ranks sixth. The new model is 9.4 percent more expensive in Korea than the United States.
The iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) is cheaper in the order of the United States (1,267,742 won), Japan (1,449,000 won), and Hong Kong (1,459,224 won). Korea stands eighth. The model costs 1.55 million won in Korea, making its price in Korea 16.8 percent higher than its price in the United States.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) is the cheapest in the U.S. (1,592,356 won), followed by Japan (1,780,871 won) and Hong Kong (1,730,739 won). South Korea comes in 12th with 1.9 million won. The model is 19.3 percent more expensive in Korea than the United States.
Turkiye is the country with the highest prices for iPhone 15 models in the world. Even the iPhone 15 base model (128 GB) costs 2,465,101 won in Turkiye. The most expensive model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max (1 TB), is priced at 4,585,131 won in the country.
Apple’s unveiling of the iPhone 15 on Sept. 13 has raised eyebrows among Korean consumers. Its price in Korea is the highest among the three Northeast Asian countries –- Korea, China and Japan. Although Apple has frozen the price in Korea, its price has virtually climbed due to Apple’s won-dollar exchange rate policy.
When Apple released the iPhone 14 in September last year, it froze its price in North America, but raised its retail price in Korea, citing a surge in the won-dollar exchange rate. Compared to the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 base model’s price rose by 160,000 won, that of the iPhone 14 Pro by 200,000 won, and that of the ProMax by 260,000 won. At the time, the won-dollar exchange rate reflected by Apple was reportedly 1,400 won for one U.S. dollar. The previous day, the exchange rate closed at 1,330 won on Sept. 13.
The reason for Korean consumers’ dissatisfaction is that overseas companies have lowered prices to reflect the exchange rate. Apple lowered the price of the iPhone 15 in the United Kingdom and Germany by 50 pounds and 50 euros, respectively, compared to the previous model, even though the exchange rate fluctuated more in the two countries than Korea.
