New Delhi. A TechArc report has revealed a significant price disparity for Apple’s new foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. A comparative study of markets across 14 countries shows that the iPhone Duo is significantly more expensive in developing nations such as India, Türkiye and the Philippines than in developed markets such as the US. According to the report, the average price of the phone in low- and middle-income countries is approximately 63 percent higher than in high-income countries.
TechArc compared eight low- and middle-income countries—India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam and Türkiye—with six high-income markets, including the US, UAE, Hong Kong, Canada, the UK and Germany.
According to the data, the average price of the iPhone Duo in low- and middle-income countries was around $3,669, compared with an average of $2,248 in high-income countries.
The report identifies Türkiye as the most expensive market, with the iPhone Duo priced at approximately $4,741. The Philippines follows, with the device priced at around $4,519. The report cites the depreciation of the local currency and taxes on imported and premium electronics as key factors contributing to the higher prices in Türkiye.
In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam, the phone’s price ranges from approximately $2,950 to $3,590. In contrast, the device is priced at $1,999 in the US, making it the lowest-priced market among those included in the study.
According to the report, factors such as import duties, taxes, currency exchange-rate fluctuations and company margins can influence the price of the iPhone Duo in India. The report claims that the phone is imported into India in a fully assembled form, making it subject to customs duties and other levies. An 18 percent GST is also applicable to smartphones.
Companies may also maintain additional margins or buffers to hedge against fluctuations in the rupee-dollar exchange rate, which could affect the final retail price.
The report also suggests that the higher price of the iPhone Duo in developing markets could be part of Apple’s premium pricing strategy. According to experts cited in the report, the company may be targeting consumers with the purchasing power to buy foldable smartphones at a premium price. This could be part of a broader strategy to position the iPhone Duo as a premium device in the foldable smartphone market.
