Apple’s pricey iPhones are no less than a status symbol in India – a price sensitive market where smartphone prices start at around Rs. 5,000. Apple’s latest smartphone – iPhone 5S – launched in India for over a half lakh rupees (for the lowest 16GB model.) The 64GB model costs around Rs. 71,000. Moreover, pricing for the so called ‘less-expensive’ iPhone 5C starts at Rs. 41,900. And now, a study reveals – we Indians pay the most for the Apple smartphone in the world.
Technology website Mobiles Unlocked has released a detailed analysis on the price of the iPhone 5S at global price index. The report says the iPhone 5S costs the Indians the most in the world when compared with their purchasing power. Indians pay about 22.3% of the national gross domestic product per capita (GDP PPP) to buy the iPhone 5S. The GDP (PPP ) refers to the measure of how much money an average person generates in each country.
According to the list prepared by Mobiles Unlocked, India is followed by Vietnam, Jordan and Philippines. China, considered to be Apple’s fastest-growing market, stands fifth in the list, in terms of GDP PPP. Chinese shell out 10% of their GDP PPP.
While the iPhone 5S costs the most to Indians, it costs the least to Qatar citizens, who pay 0.76% of their disposable incomes for the device. Americans have to pay 1.36% of their disposable incomes for the phone.
The study covers 47 countries and includes the price of the 16GB model of the iPhone 5S, and prices are directly from the local Apple stores for each country or a listed official supplier from the Apple site. Also read, iPhone 4S, the most expensive in India; why so?