iPhone 7 Infographic Text

Recent reports have surfaced stating that iPhones start out with Apple engineers in the US, where components are sourced mainly from Southeast Asia and assembled in China. However, a quick search across Southeast Asian countries have shown that the cost of the new iPhone 7 is significantly more expensive compared to the US. The reasons for this difference in pricing range from export/import costs, tax and fees imposed by the countries’ respective governments.

In countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, where the iPhone 7 has yet to be officially launched, Apple enthusiasts have resorted to getting the phone from abroad in the hope of being one of the first to own the phone. Unauthorized retailers are purchasing this latest model from countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, where it has been officially launched. The phones are then re-sold in their respective countries at higher prices, which can go up by 14% in Vietnam and by 49% in Thailand (refer to infographics by iPrice).

Did you know that the iPhone 6 sold a record breaking 13 million units three days after its launch last year? According to a survey, Filipinos are very enthusiastic about the iPhone with 41.2% of those surveyed picking it over other brands.

With around 27.5 million smart phone users in the Philippines in 2016, Apple has retained the popularity of its iPhones among smart phone consumers due to its association with luxury. As a status symbol, owners of an iPhone are viewed as rich, luxurious and capable.

• The iPhone 7 is estimated to have a launching price of PHP 50,000.
• An upper middle class Filipino has an average monthly income of PHP15,430 or an hourly income of about USD1.8.
• Paired together, a Filipino will have to work for 71 days to be able to buy the new iPhone 7
• The estimated launching price is roughly equivalent to 4 months of an apartment’s rent in the city center or 25 bags of rice (assuming a bag of rice is PHP 2,000).