Apple's much-anticipated iPhone 15 is set to hit the Indian market, but buyers might be in for a surprise as the prices in India are significantly higher compared to the US and Dubai, even though some of these iPhones are manufactured within the country.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max (1 terabyte) is priced at Rs 1,99,900 in India, marking a 51% increase when compared to the US price of $1,599 (approximately Rs 1,32,717). It's worth noting that this particular model is not yet produced in India. For the models manufactured domestically, the price difference is still substantial, up to 20% higher when compared to the US prices.
Dubai, on the other hand, offers slightly lower prices, with the iPhone 15 priced at AED 3,399 (approximately Rs 76,817), despite not being manufactured in the UAE.
The gap in pricing becomes even more apparent with the flagship Pro versions, which attract a 22% import duty. In India, the base variant of the iPhone 15 Pro is priced at Rs 1,34,900 compared to Rs 82,917 in the US. Surprisingly, it's priced significantly lower in Dubai at Rs 97,157. As for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it costs Rs 1,59,900 in India, while it's priced at Rs 99,517 in the US and Rs 1,15,237 in Dubai.
Several factors contribute to these price disparities. A key Apple distributor explained, "One of the reasons is the supply chain, as several components are shipped after the payment of import duty. Also, the scale of business in India is much less when compared to strong volumes in the US and Dubai."
Prabhu Ram, head of the industry intelligence group at CyberMedia Research, emphasized that various variables impact the final pricing. "Apple does collaborate with partners to offer discounts and trade-in options in the year ahead to mitigate the impact of basic customs duties and additional taxes on the final pricing of imported models."
He also noted that the company's initial focus in India remains on the previous-generation models, allowing consumers to warm up to the new ones gradually. "Our insights point to older generation iPhones propelling Apple's growth in India," Ram said.
Navkendar Singh, associate VP with IDC India, added, "It is not right to assume that 'assembled in India' would mean cheaper iPhones. Apple wouldn't drop the prices of new launch models. Instead, it will invest in marketing, supply chain, and more importantly, run aggressive affordability offers for previous-gen iPhone models, which give the majority of volumes to Apple in India at any point."
FAQs
In India, the base variant of the iPhone 15 Pro is priced at Rs 1,34,900 compared to Rs 82,917 in the US. Surprisingly, it's priced significantly lower in Dubai at Rs 97,157. As for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it costs Rs 1,59,900 in India, while it's priced at Rs 99,517 in the US and Rs 1,15,237 in Dubai.
Is the iPhone 15 cheaper in the USA than India? ›
United States
The United States reportedly has the lowest price of iPhone 15 models. The base model iPhone 15 starts at $799. The iPhone 15 Pro is priced at $999. This amount roughly translates as INR 66512 for the iPhone 15 and INR 83161 for the iPhone 15 Pro series respectively.
Why iPhone is costly in India than Dubai? ›
Why is the Apple iPhone price expensive in India? It is because the Iphones are not manufactured in India. They have to be imported. There is a 20% import duty on mobiles phones and also a 10% social welfare tax on the import duty.
Why is the iPhone 15 expensive in India? ›
Firstly, iPhones are not entirely "made in India" but rather assembled in the country. The supply chain for iPhone production still relies on components imported from other regions. Consequently, Apple is subject to customs duties, which have a direct impact on the final prices.
What is the price of iPhone 15 in India vs Dubai? ›
iPhone 15 series price in Dubai:
The iPhone 15 starts from AED 3,399 (almost ₹76,700) in Dubai while the iPhone 15 Plus starts from AED 3,799 (almost ₹85,700). The price of the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro starts from AED 4,299 (almost ₹97,000) and iPhone 15 Pro Max starts from AED 5,099 (almost ₹1,15,00).
What are the disadvantages of buying iPhone from Dubai to India? ›
If you buy a carrier-locked iPhone from Dubai, you will not be able to use it in India with an Indian SIM card. You will need to unlock it first, which might involve paying a fee or contacting the original network provider. Unlocking a carrier-locked iPhone might also void its warranty or affect its functionality.
Is it OK to buy iPhone from USA to India? ›
Apple India DOES honor Apple devices purchased internationally. I have received warranty service before in India for phones purchased in the US. Including Apple Care +. You can verify this by calling any Apple Store there or any Apple Authorized Service Provider in India.
Is iPhone 15 made in India quality? ›
Quality: Apple maintains strict quality control standards for all its manufacturing facilities around the world, so the quality of your iPhone 15 will be the same regardless of whether it was made in India or China.
How to tell if an iPhone is made in India? ›
If the model number has HN before the "/" then its an Indian model. If the model number has HN before the "/" then its an Indian model. Choose Settings, General, and then About, and find the model number. An Indian iPhone will have HN just before the slash.
Why are iPhone prices higher in India? ›
And don't forget the GST that is levied, which the buyers have to pay. The custom duties Apple pays is around 22%. Add another 18% GST to it, the cost is up by 40%. All this adds to the cost of buying an iPhone in India as all these taxes and duties drive up the prices.
Buying iPhones abroad, particularly the Pro models, can lead to significant savings of up to Rs 60,000. However, for the non-Pro models like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the price differential is not substantial, making buying them from abroad less financially advantageous.
What is difference between iPhone in Dubai and India? ›
In general, iPhones tend to be more expensive in countries with higher taxes and import duties. Dubai is known for being a tax-free haven for many goods, including electronics, so the price of an iPhone in Dubai might be lower than in other countries.
Is the iPhone 15 dual SIM in India? ›
To use Dual SIM, you need iOS 12.1 or later, two nano-SIM cards and one of these iPhone models: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max. iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max.
What is the cost of an iPhone 15 in the USA? ›
United States
Here, the pricing of iPhone 15 starts at $799 (approx. ₹66,208), while that for iPhone 15 Plus is $899 (approx. ₹74,495). iPhones Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, have a starting cost of $999 (around ₹82,781) and $1,199 (around ₹99,354).
Are mobile phones cheaper in the USA than India? ›
If you want to buy some high end phone like iPhone or Note 4, then you should give it a try. The iPhone is quite cheap in USA as compare to India e.g. if you buy an iPhone in USA, it costs 649 dollars which is around 40,000 with current exchange rate, same iPhone costs 53000 in India. So yes, it is cheaper.
What is the price of iPhone 14 in India vs USA? ›
| iPhone 14 | iPhone 14 Plus |
|---|
| India | Rs 79,900 | Rs 89,990 |
| US | $799 | $899 |
| Converted | Rs 63,710.14 | Rs 71,683.88 |
| UK | £849 | £949 |
12 more rowsSep 9, 2022
