Katie Marsal
Pricing on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in India has been reduced by between 11 and 16 percent, reflecting Apple's most aggressive approach yet with a new flagship handset in the world's second-most-populous country.
The price cuts were portrayed by The Times of India as a way for Apple to boost what it called "flagging sales" in the country since the launch of the iPhone 6s series. The entry-level 16-gigabyte iPhone 6s can now be had for 48,499 rupees, off from its introductory price of around 62,000 rupees.
Even with the new pricing, the iPhone 6s is still considerably more expensive in India than the U.S., based on current exchange rates. 48,499 Indian rupees equals about $732 U.S., while a brand new unlocked 16-gigabyte iPhone 6s is available for $649 in America.
New Indian pricing on the iPhone 6s lineup comes just after Apple slashed the price of its entry-level iPhone 5s by almost half in the country. While the iPhone 5s was selling for 44,500 rupees ($663) in September, it can now be had for 24,999 rupees ($372).
Until relatively recently Apple has struggled to gain marketshare in India, where the triple threat of high import taxes, a weak currency, and low wages compared to the West often prices iPhones out of people's hands. The iPhone 6s started at 62,000 rupees — or about $955 U.S. — when it launched in India this October, making it $306 more expensive than in America.
The Times shared iPhone 6s series pricing from what it said is one of India's "biggest" websites. Current exchange rates are also included:
- iPhone 6S (16GB): Rs 48,499 ($732)
- iPhone 6S (64GB): Rs 62,849 ($948)
- iPhone 6S (128GB): Rs 74,940 ($1,131)
- iPhone 6S Plus (16GB): Rs 61,999 ($935)
- iPhone 6S Plus (64GB): Rs 75,499 ($1,139)
- iPhone 6S Plus (128GB): Rs 85,999 ($1,297)
Despite exchange and pricing struggles, Apple's total sales in India crossed the $1 billion mark in a 12-month span for the first time this year. Apple managed a 44 percent increase in year-over-year sales and doubled its net profits.
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Wesley Hilliard
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Andrew Orr
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11 Comments
My guess is that Apple is testing price points to determine whether India can support a sufficient iPhone market to make it worthwhile to begin manufacturing iPhones there, which would then save Apple on onerous import levies, gaining the company back much of the profits given up by the lower prices it's charging.
Apple should really think about discontinuing the 16 GB model as however low it's priced, chances are that people will rate poorly of customer satisfaction when they find out that their apps and pictures eat up a majority of the space that's available, especially with the 6s' higher res 4K camera with Live Photos.
For many people in India, the 16 GB model is the entry level device and for the huge sum of cash they're paying upfront (contracts don't work here), they are very well likely to be disappointed.
Also, how much less money are they going to make if they discontinue it and price the 64 GB model a few notches lower, but not as low as the 16 GB one? It is at least something that they should consider doing.
I don't know for sure but I expect that the price difference is less than this article says. That's because the Indian price probably includes taxes, as is the case for Britain, France, Germany, Australia, etc etc. Anyone care to comment either way?