Apple’s iPhone X found more expensive in Korea
Korean consumers will have to pay more to purchase the iPhone X than American and Japanese customers.
Apple Korea unveiled the price tags for the 10th anniversary phone this week; buying the 64 GB device outright from Apple will cost 1.42 million won ($1,270). The 256 GB edition without any contracts or ties with a particular carrier will be available for 1.63 million won.
The prices are much higher here than in the United States and Japan.
The 64 GB model costs $999 and the 256 GB handset sells for $1,149 in the U.S. Even considering the 10 percent taxes imposed on the device there, the pricing is still high.
In Japan, the prices for the iPhone X models are also 112,800 yen (1.1 million won) and 130,045 yen.
The iPhone X is Apple’s most expensive handset ever, but the pricing beat expectations it would be around 1.3 million won and 1.5 million won.
The iPhone 8 that hit shelves Friday costs 990,000 won for the 64 GB model and 1.2 million won for the 256 GB edition, hovering above 782,000 won set for the U.S. and 780,000 won for Japan.
Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 8, regarded as the iPhone X’s biggest rival, is offered at 1.09 million won for the 64 GB and 1.25 million won for the 256 GB.
However, the price tags could be lowered when consumers receive a subsidy from wireless providers. The nation’s telecom companies offer a subsidy worth around 100,000 won for the iPhone 8.
If they opt for a 25 percent monthly discount on their cellular bill instead of the subsidy, the devices could be sold at 1.07 million won for the 64 GB version and 1.22 million won for the 256 GB.
Last month, the government raised the discount rate of monthly mobile phone rates from 20 percent to 25 percent to help cut mobile costs.
The iPhone X was released last week in 55 countries, including the U.S., Japan and China.
However, it is unknown when the smartphone will arrive in Korea.
The iPhone X is equipped with a 5.8-inch high-end OLED screen, unlike the LCD screens Apple used in earlier iPhones. The device is unlocked through facial recognition software, and the iPhone’s signature home button has been removed.