The Apple iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models have recently become available in India. However, it appears that the new iPhones are even more expensive in this country, compared to those being sold in the United States and even possibly elsewhere.
The Indian Express revealed that the iPhone 6s 16GB is priced at Rs 62,000 ( approximately $955), while the iPhone 6s Plus costs Rs 72,000 ($1,110) in India. In the United States, the unlocked iPhone 6s is priced at around Rs 41,992 ($649), while the iPhone 6s 128GB is priced at around Rs 54,939 ($849). The iPhone 6s Plus in the United States begins at Rs 48,463 ($749), going up to Rs 61,404 ($949).
Based on the same report by the Indian Express, the iPhone 6s costs about $832 in China, $721 in Hong Kong, $832 in the United Kingdom, $757 in Singapore, $840 in France and $784 in Australia. The iPhone 6s Plus costs $958 in China, $862 in Hong Kong, $955 in the United Kingdom, $880 in Singapore, $974 in France, and $893 in Australia. This means that India is the most expensive place to purchase the new iPhones. The figures also showed that Hong Kong is the cheapest place to acquire both phones.
Hindustan Times revealed that Apple has been trying to gain more Indian buyers since 2013, since the smartphone market was dominated by Android phones. Since the iPhone 6 was released in 2014, the Indian rupee has dipped in value significantly. A weaker Indian rupee is one of the main reasons why the iPhone 6s is priced higher in the country than anywhere else in the world. Compared to China, which devalued the yuan by 4.4 percent in August 2015 to improve its domestic economy, the iPhone 6s should have been priced higher. The excise duty on imported products has also been increased from 6 percent to 12.5 percent, to put more emphasis on locally made products. It is also one of the general reasons why the new iPhones are more expensive in India compared to everywhere else.
Apple understands that e-commerce discounting is a big thing in India, so prices of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are expected to come down in the next six months. Retailers have been offering several discounts and offers that will lower the price of the Apple handsets for customers. It is also speculated by industry observers that Apple intends to be the most expensive smartphone in the market so as not to lose its premium value, based on the same Hindustan Times report.
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