Apple has consistently been increasing the prices of its flagship iPhones over the years. The tech giant knows that smartphones have become an integral part of people’s lives, and they will happily pay for the expensive iPhones. The 2014 iPhone 6 Plus started at $749. Now the iPhone XR, the cheapest iPhone this year, occupies the same price point. The most expensive model, the iPhone XS Max, starts at $1,099 in the US. In some countries, the iPhone XS Max price is close to 2,000. Let’s take a look at the iPhone XS Max price in the US, UK, China, and other countries.
According to CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood, Apple’s strategy of charging more for better products has worked wonderfully over the last 12 months. The iPhone XS replaces the iPhone X, and retails for $999 for the base model in the US. The XS Max, which is identical to the iPhone XS except for battery and screen size, costs $100 more. In the US, the 512GB iPhone XS Max price is $1,449.
iPhone XS Max price: How much does it cost in your country?
Consumers in international markets usually pay more for the newest iPhones than the US consumers due to import taxes and international currency valuations. The 512GB iPhone XS Max costs a staggering $2,000 in India. Below is the iPhone XS Max price in different countries for all three 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB models. I took the prices from Apple’s official websites for respective countries and then converted them into the US dollar to give you a better perspective on pricing.
The 512GB iPhone XS Max is the most expensive in India, costing $2,000. That’s a shockingly high price tag considering more than 80% smartphones sold in India cost $200 or less. Even the cheapest 64GB iPhone XR – which would debut in late October – has been priced at $1,050 in India, much higher than $749 in the US. The 6.5-inch Max is also ridiculously expensive in places like Italy and Poland.
The device is more reasonably priced in Japan at $1,115 for 64GB, $1,266 for 256GB, and $1,472 for the 512GB model. It is as close to the US pricing as it could get. The iPhones are the cheapest in the US, and most expensive in India. In contrast, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 was the most expensive in Samsung’s home country of South Korea, where it was priced at roughly $1,206. The Note 9 sells for $999 in the United States.
The iPhone XS Max sports a 6.5-inch bezel-less Super Retina OLED display with 458ppi pixel density. It is available in silver, gold, and space gray colors. The device is powered by the A12 Bionic processor, the world’s first chip based on the 7nm processor. It offers a hexa-core CPU, quad-core GPU, and an octa-core Neural Engine that could process five trillion operations per second. For the first time, the iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, and XR come with dual-SIM functionality.
The iPhone XS Max supports fast charging and wireless charging. The device also gets an IP68 rating for water-resistance, allowing it to remain submerged in up to 2 meters deep water for 30 minutes. It has two 12 MP lenses on the back and a 7MP front snapper. The cameras take advantage of the Neural Engine and the A12 Bionic chip to capture better pictures. The XS Max offers up to 90 minutes longer battery life than the iPhone X.
The cost of repairs could scare many potential customers
If you thought the iPhone XS Max price was too high, wait until you check out the company’s Service Pricing for the new models. If you are spending over a thousand dollars buying it, just pray to God you never accidentally drop or damage it. If you damage the iPhone XS Max screen, it is going to cost you $329. “Other damages” will set you back by $599, which is exactly what the iPhone 8 currently costs on Apple’s website.
Even if you get the AppleCare+ protection that costs $269 for the latest models, you’ll have to shell out $29 for screen repair and $99 for other damages. This isn’t cheap either. Despite charging exorbitant prices for the iPhones and then for repairs, Apple doesn’t include a fast charger or headphone dongle in the box.
If you don’t want to buy the iPhone XS Max, XS or XR, you could opt for the older models. While Apple is mercilessly increasing the prices of its latest models, it continues to sell older models at reduced prices. Here’s how much the older iPhones now cost:
- iPhone 7: $449 (32GB), $549 (128GB)
- iPhone 7 Plus: $569 (32GB), $669 (128GB)
- iPhone 8: $599 (64GB), $749(256GB)
- iPhone 8 Plus: $669 (64GB), $849 (256GB)
If you are planning to buy a new iPhone this year, which one are you going to pick? Let us know in the comments below.
