Apple raises iPhone prices outside US and China

Apple made a point of saying it was keeping the iPhone 14 range priced the same as the iPhone 13 one, but it turns out that was only for the US and China.

Before Apple's September 7 "Far Out" event, it was sometimes predicted that the iPhone 14 would be as much as $100 more expensive than the iPhone 13. Plus the iPhone 14 Pro line was routinely rumored to be more costly than the iPhone 13 Pro line.

The reports and rumors were strong and consistent enough that it was a surprise when Apple revealed it was keeping all new 2022 iPhone prices the same as in 2021. Except now, according to CNBC, those original rumors were close to accurate — for countries other than the US and China.

Comparing the base iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models, CNBC says that UK buyers have a seen a rise equivalent to $80. It's much less in Australia with an increase of $33, but Germany is right on the $100 mark — and Japan's price increase is $146.

For the iPhone 14 Pro range, CNBC notes that UK buyers have to spend the equivalent of $175 more to buy the iPhone 14 Pro Max, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Most of this is probably from what Tim Cook and Luca Maestri call "foreign exchange headwinds." The US dollar is current riding high compared to many currencies, particularly the UK, plus there have been rising component costs.

However, CNBC notes that despite this, Apple has chosen to keep its China prices the same as last year. China is an important market for Apple, and continued coronavirus lockdowns have reportedly dampened consumer enthusiasm for expensive devices.