The customs duty on imported gadgets has risen from 10 percent to 20 percent in the 2018-19 Budget. Because of this, the cost of the Xbox One X, PS4 and PS4 Pro has shot up in India. Price change for the Xbox One S is not known.
They say good things come to those who wait. Well, that might not be true if you were waiting to purchase a gaming console in India. With the increase in import duty on gadgets from 10 percent to 20 percent, the price of gaming consoles has increased. Information circulating the internet suggests that the price of the Xbox One X has risen from Rs 44,990 to Rs 48,490. As of writing this story, the price on Microsoft India’s website is still Rs 44,990 so reports should be taken with a pinch of salt. When it comes to Sony’s consoles, the PS4 Pro launched at Rs 38,990, but will reportedly soon sell for Rs 41,990, again unconfirmed by Sony. The PS4 Slim is also slated to see a price hike as per multiple reports citing retail sources. The 500GB variant will cost Rs 31,990. The earlier price was Rs 28,990. The 1TB variant will sell for Rs 35,990 while the earlier price was Rs 32,990.
With the rise in price, console gaming in India has become quite expensive. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are definitely not value for money propositions at their India price points. You can get them much cheaper in the grey market but you will lose out on the warranty if you do so.
To put things into perspective, the PS4 costs $300 for the 1TB variant which is about Rs 19,500 directly converted. The PS4 Pro is priced at $400 which is about Rs 26,000 directly converted. The Xbox One X sells in the US for $500 which is about Rs 32,500 directly converted. Remember, all these prices are before tax in the US.
The change in customs duty on imported gadgets has affected the prices of smartphones that are imported along with TVs, PC hardware and of course gaming consoles. If you currently own the PS4 or the Xbox One S, then we say hold on and save your money as the next console generation is rumoured to be unveiled as early as 2019. The ideal combination of consoles to own is the PS4 and Xbox One X. The PS4 will let you play Sony’s behemoth library of exclusive games and the Xbox One X will let you play third party games at the best possible resolution and frame rate. Also, with Microsoft’s backwards compatibility and Game Pass, you will have access to a large library of games without burning a hole in your pocket.
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Sameer Mitha
Sameer Mitha lives for gaming and technology is his muse. When he isn’t busy playing with gadgets or video games he delves into the world of fantasy novels. View Full Profile
