New Delhi. A fresh TechArc study shows that Apple’s latest foldable, the iPhone Duo, carries a steep price premium in emerging economies. When the device’s price is compared across 14 nations, consumers in low‑ and middle‑income markets pay roughly 63 % more than shoppers in high‑income regions.
Methodology and key figures
The research examined eight emerging‑market countries – India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam and Türkiye – and contrasted them with six affluent markets, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.
On average, the iPhone Duo is priced at about $3,669 in the former group, versus roughly $2,248 in the latter, according to the data.
Most expensive markets
Türkiye tops the list, with an average retail price of around $4,741. The Philippines follows closely at about $4,519. The report attributes these figures to a combination of a weakened local currency and steep taxes on imported premium electronics.
India and neighbouring countries
In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam, the handset’s price ranges from roughly $2,950 to $3,590. By contrast, the United States sells the same model for $1,999, making it the cheapest market in the sample.
Why the gap?
TechArc points to several drivers behind the disparity: import duties, value‑added taxes, GST (18 % on smartphones in India), volatile exchange rates and the margins Apple builds to protect against rupee‑dollar swings. The phone is shipped to India fully assembled, which subjects it to the full suite of customs levies.
Analysts also suggest that Apple may be deliberately positioning the iPhone Duo as a high‑end offering for affluent consumers in developing regions, reinforcing its premium‑price strategy in the nascent foldable‑phone segment.
