The iPhone 5 made its “global debut” recently when it became available in 22 countries. And it’s probably not something that a lot of people realize, but just because the iPhone 5 costs approximately $649.99 USD base does not mean that’s what it costs in the rest of the world. In fact, prices fluctuate drastically between most locales. And now, thanks to the Italian based website SetteB, we know exactly how much each country will pay for the new Apple handset.
The chart at the above link which is also credited to SetteB’s Twitter Account is a rather eye-opening piece of information. It’s pretty incredible how much money people in other countries are forced to shell out for Apple products, due to exchange rates and local taxes. Italians are paying the biggest fee to own an iPhone 5, with the cost of a 16-Gigabyte model peaking out at US$940 (729 Euros). That conversion means that the “cream of the crop” 64-Gigabyte device will cost locals approximately US$1,223.00 (949 Euros).
The United States pays the least, since Apple’s Headquarters are stationed on American soil. Take a look at the chart above to get a better idea of what individuals across the globe have to shell out for their beloved cellular devices. After taking a look at the numbers in the chart, it will probably make you reevaluate how “expensive” that iPhone 5 really is for us Americans.
This isn’t just a trend regarding the iPhone 5 either. Apple iDevices are historically sold at higher prices in other countries. According to the chart below, there was also a substantial boost in iPhone 4 prices globally, after its original release. This chart shows Italy once again paying the highest price for an Apple handset, chiefly due to a high conversion rate between the country and the United States, as well as a slew of local taxes.
Steve Hughes, one of our resident contributors at our digital magazine counterpart, TechLife News, recently did a very in-depth spread concerning the “worldwide price” of the new iPhone 5. The following is a writing clip quoted directly from his analysis:
“The fee structure of the iPhone 5 follows a similar model seen in previous iterations of the device. In the United States, one of the cheapest places to procure the gadget, the price point (with plan) of a 16GB model starts at a mere $199 and an unlocked iPhone 4S is available for $549. Given the status of owning the most recent Apple smart phone coupled with the price point of its major rivals, the device is a relative bargain in the USA.
“On the other hand, the variation in prices becomes quite noticeable outside the borders of the stars and stripes. Northern neighbor Canada, whose currency has risen sharply versus the US dollar and coaxed hoards of shoppers over the border to take advantage of bargains, sees prices of an unblocked iPhone 5 that start at $699 Canadian dollars, around US$715, a noticeable increase over the price in the United States.
“The fluctuations become more obvious in other locales. In the United Kingdom the starting price for the latest Apple smartphone starts at £529 or approximately US$860 (an unlocked 4S costs slightly less at £449, coming in at roughly US$728). Prices in Germany are similar to the UK with an iPhone 5 starting at €679 (approximately US$878) and an unlocked 16GB 4S retailing for €579 (around US$749), compared to neighbor Italy with a slightly higher price for the same 4S at €629 or US$814 (pricing on the iPhone 5 was not available as of the publication of this article).”
If you’re interested in getting a more cohesive analysis of this pricing ladder, then follow this link to subscribe to AppleMagazine! The particular article that Steve Hughes wrote, titled “The $2,000 iPhone” is located in Issue #48.
