iPhones get second overseas price cut in a week, this time in India
Apple's Indian resellers are reportedly slashing the cost of the iPhone XR starting this Friday, marking the second time this week iPhones have seen price cuts in foreign markets.
The cost of a 64-gigabyte iPhone XR will shrink from 76,900 to 59,900 rupees, or from about $1,123 to $875, Gadgets 360 said on Wednesday. In the U.S., the same phone would be $749 before tax.
128 gigabyte models will drop to 64,900 rupees ($948), and 256 gigabytes to 74,900 ($1,094). Previously a top-of-the-line XR cost the equivalent of $1,343 in the country, much higher than the $899 cap in the U.S.
Those higher capacities will be even cheaper for for HDFC debit and credit card holders thanks to a 10 percent cashback promotion -- putting 128 gigabytes at 58,400 rupees ($853), and 256 gigabytes at 67,400 ($985).
The new prices are said to be closer to two of the XR's main rivals in India, the Samsung Galaxy S10e and OnePlus 6T.
Earlier this week Apple reduced the price of iPhones, iPads, and other products in China, likely in response to the country's value-added tax (VAT) dropping from 16 percent to 13 percent. It's also under pressure to revive Chinese revenues however, which fell 26.7 percent in the December quarter primarily because of cheaper local smartphone brands.
Apple's Indian smartphone marketshare is currently sitting around 1 percent, in no small part because new iPhones are often far too expensive for the average person, especially with import fees. The company has resorted to building and selling older models locally, such as the iPhone 7 and X.
The cost of a 64-gigabyte iPhone XR will shrink from 76,900 to 59,900 rupees, or from about $1,123 to $875, Gadgets 360 said on Wednesday. In the U.S., the same phone would be $749 before tax.
128 gigabyte models will drop to 64,900 rupees ($948), and 256 gigabytes to 74,900 ($1,094). Previously a top-of-the-line XR cost the equivalent of $1,343 in the country, much higher than the $899 cap in the U.S.
Those higher capacities will be even cheaper for for HDFC debit and credit card holders thanks to a 10 percent cashback promotion -- putting 128 gigabytes at 58,400 rupees ($853), and 256 gigabytes at 67,400 ($985).
The new prices are said to be closer to two of the XR's main rivals in India, the Samsung Galaxy S10e and OnePlus 6T.
Earlier this week Apple reduced the price of iPhones, iPads, and other products in China, likely in response to the country's value-added tax (VAT) dropping from 16 percent to 13 percent. It's also under pressure to revive Chinese revenues however, which fell 26.7 percent in the December quarter primarily because of cheaper local smartphone brands.
Apple's Indian smartphone marketshare is currently sitting around 1 percent, in no small part because new iPhones are often far too expensive for the average person, especially with import fees. The company has resorted to building and selling older models locally, such as the iPhone 7 and X.
Comments
The Christmas trade-in promotions were also listed as 'limited time only' but four months later, are still being promoted on Apple Spain's front page.
Foxconn is apparently just weeks away from commencing trial production of the iPhone X series of phones: https://swarajyamag.com/insta/technology-boost-to-make-in-india-apple-to-start-production-of-iphone-x-range-in-tamil-nadu
Theoretically, that should help Apple do away with the 20% import duty currently levied. So, your wish may be close to fulfillment.
Apple is actually dropping quite a few prices around the world.
Example: Want an Apple Music subscription in India? You're in luck as Apple just yesterday dropped the price all the way down to $1.43/mo (US dollars) or $2.17 for the whole family.
"but what about the artists?"
Those old handsets (iPhone SE and iPhone 6) are already available for sale here in India. Recently, there were articles around starting the iPhone 7 assembling here in India. And I do think they avoid tariffs, because they are relatively priced lower (Rs. 17,000 for iPhone SE, equivalent of ~$250).
Thanks for the clarification. I didn't really understand his question, so just posted a generic reply. NO, iPhone SE is NOT a stature item here. Almost ALL of the Android midrangers are priced in that range of iPhone SE to iPhone 6. Not sure if "stature" is a big deal here in India. The fact that Apple has just ~30% marketshare in >$500 segment (1% overall in smartphones) in India is a testament to that.
While the comments about the number of people who can afford high priced smartphones is true to some extent, the fact that Apple has just 30% marketshare in phones >$500 paints a different picture about the appeal of iPhones to the potential buyers even at the higher segments.