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Want Apple's new shiny iPhones? Well then, you better pray you're not in India

Sahil Bhalla | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 5:47 IST

India will witness the launch of Apple's shiny iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus on Friday, 16 October. This may be the fastest that India has ever gotten its hands on the latest iPhones (legally, of course!) but the shortened wait comes at a cost -- Rs 62,000 for the base model. That my friends, is the highest price to pay for an iPhone in the world.

The launch comes barely three weeks after it was launched in most of the western world. While that may put a smile on many a Indian, most would be disappointed on knowing the cost of the device.

Apple is pushing itself hard in the Indian market. In latest news, Apple has tied up with Croma to launch the Apple store in India. Other than that, Apple is partnering with Airtel and Vodafone and pulling out all stops to get the phone in the hands of the Indians.

Will Indians really go for the new iPhones?

The iPhone 6S will be launching at a base price of Rs 62,000 i.e. Rs 8,500 more than the iPhone 6 launch price last year. Sure, Apple can sell a phone for Rs 62,000, but when it is the highest price for the device in the world, something must be wrong right? Actually, the question to be asked is; does it really matter anymore?

Prices for the iPhone 6s start from Rs 62,000 for the 16GB version, Rs 72,000 for the 64GB variant and Rs 82,000 for the 128GB variant. iPhone 6s Plus, the larger model, will be priced at Rs 72,000 for the 16GB version. Rs 82,000 and Rs 92,000 for the 64GB and 128GB versions respectively.

The folks at CNET have compared the prices in India to its US, UK and Australia counterparts and found that India comes out on the higher side.

The iPhone 6s 16GB version, that costs Rs 62,000 in India, costs almost Rs 20,000 less at Rs 42,087 in the US. The top most model, the iPhone 6s Plus 128GB version, costs an exorbitant Rs 92,000 in India. Compare that to Rs 61,400 approximately in the US.

Apple prices in India are high and this has always been the case. But being the most expensive country to buy the iPhone 6s in the world, will sting just that much more. The highest price tag doesn't seem to have any effect on the sales in the country though. In the third-quarter of this year, Apple saw a gigantic 93 per cent jump, year-on-year, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Apple has been pushing its marketing in the country and with various EMI schemes and partnerships on hand, Apple may manage to see even more growth after the launch of the iPhone 6s.

In reality, Indians are price conscious. Heck, we've always been that way. In fact, phones that are sub-Rs 20,000 have been selling like hot cakes in the country and phones above that have struggled. Even Samsung realises that. The Samsung Galaxy S6 costs around Rs 40,000 but doesn't do nearly as well as its cheaper models. The Xiaomi Mi range and the Motorola G range, both sub Rs 20,000, have been selling very well on Flipkart and Amazon.

Come Friday and people may be lining up to be the first to buy Apple's shiny new gadget, but one would be stupid to pay such an exorbitant price when they can get a similar phone, with better specs for a far cheaper price.

About two weeks back, when the Google Nexus 5X was launched, I did a comparison with Apple's iPhone. The specs are better on the Google Nexus 5X and it costs Rs 30,000 less.

The question is, do you want to pay Rs 30,000 extra just so you can show off to your friends, or would you rather pay Rs 30,000 less, buy a better phone and use the leftover money for a vacation?

If you truly want the iPhone, spend some money, fly abroad, buy the phone, enjoy a few days off and come back to India with some money leftover in your pocket. That's the smarter choice if you just have to buy Apple's latest shiny offering.

First published: 12 October 2015, 10:18 IST
 
Sahil Bhalla @IMSahilBhalla

Sahil is a sports and tech correspondent on the speed news desk at Catch. A gadget freak, he loves offering free tech support to family and friends. He studied at Sarah Lawrence College, New York and worked previously for Scroll. He selectively boycotts fast food chains, worries about Arsenal, and travels whenever and wherever he can. Sahil is an unapologetic foodie and a film aficionado.