iPhone prices in South Africa vs the US

Daniel Puchert

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South Africans pay R6,700 more for iPhones than in the United States
South Africans are paying around R6,700 more for the iPhone 16 than their American counterparts. However, at least half of this extra cost can be explained by the 15% VAT and 9% ad valorem duty the taxman levies.

Apple's latest addition to its smartphone catalogue was the iPhone 16, released on 20 September at a retail price of $829 or R14,872. At the time, the exchange rate was R17.94 to the dollar.
 
MYBB members said it was R15K more. So who do i believe now?
 
The government remains the biggest extortion racket in the country. 24% interest isn't tax it's daylight robbery, luckily a little self control is all that is needed to starve the rats out.
 
It's normal to add a hefty premium to goods publicly related (advertised) as highly desirable to the uneducated mass population else they would lose brag value and perceive the good (phone) to be cheap and nasty. Would I buy one.. Never!
 
It's normal to add a hefty premium to goods publicly related (advertised) as highly desirable to the uneducated mass population else they would lose brag value and perceive the good (phone) to be cheap and nasty. Would I buy one.. Never!
Samsung phones also cost R20K+ but still considered cheap and nasty.
 
Also Core group: Cannot understand why iPhone 16 sales are so flat...
 
I mean the article literally ****s itself over with broken logic.

The $829 does not include taxes or the discount given if the phone is locked to a carrier.

but then in the very next line...

However, when it launched in South Africa on the same day, the iStore had it listed for R20,999 or $1,173 — 46% higher than the price in the US.

But doesn't mention the taxes that are now included.

So for accuracy the ACTUAL price of an iPhone 16 bought in a New York Zip Code is below.

1729596888671.png

So the bullshit article aside the price difference is actually just $270.43 / R4751 which all things considered being at the bottom off Africa and far away from everything (besides the fact we adhere to UK pricing) isn't all that bad.

We'll also just ignore this is not the same hardware being compared and that the US phone doesn't have a SIM tray.

If you are going to write articles about this stuff at least have the self-respect not to outright lie in favour of sensationalism.
 
Let's compare it to the correct region and the actual same device also including taxes and suddenly the price is 1729597064671.png

R18,212

price difference being R2,787 basically nothing to complain about.
 
I mean the article literally ****s itself over with broken logic.



but then in the very next line...



But doesn't mention the taxes that are now included.

So for accuracy the ACTUAL price of an iPhone 16 bought in a New York Zip Code is below.

View attachment 1766741

So the bullshit article aside the price difference is actually just $270.43 / R4751 which all things considered being at the bottom off Africa and far away from everything (besides the fact we adhere to UK pricing) isn't all that bad.

We'll also just ignore this is not the same hardware being compared and that the US phone doesn't have a SIM tray.

If you are going to write articles about this stuff at least have the self-respect not to outright lie in favour of sensationalism.
Aren't we closer to China than America?
 
Aren't we closer to China than America?
West Coast definitely not, East Coast by plane still 4 hours close to New York than Durban.

But boats are a bit different certainly so depends on shipping lanes, but either way it's more about volumes than distances.
 
Comparison for you @WingNut from DHL.

Exact same package size and weight more or less iPhone sized from Zhengzhou in China to...

Cape Town, South Africa

1729598554071.png

to New Jersey, USA

1729598571039.png

Now granted bulk shipping would be a bit different, but this illustrates how it's impossible for things to cost the same down here.

It's not all Duties & Taxes and Core makes a tiny profit on these things.
 
I got my 3 iphone 16 PMax's the old fashioned way - a relative who was visiting from the USA brought it. I paid them the invoice price from the Apple dealer they got it from. Declared as personal devices to customs (personal/business/emergency)
 
I got my 3 iphone 16 PMax's the old fashioned way - a relative who was visiting from the USA brought it. I paid them the invoice price from the Apple dealer they got it from. Declared as personal devices to customs (personal/business/emergency)
Don't USA ones use different networks?
 
I got my 3 iphone 16 PMax's the old fashioned way - a relative who was visiting from the USA brought it. I paid them the invoice price from the Apple dealer they got it from. Declared as personal devices to customs (personal/business/emergency)
eSIM adoption globally hasn’t gotten to the point yet where I’d want that as my only option.
 
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