TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One of the biggest flagships of Apple, the iPhone, upheld its long-standing September tradition to release new products. While the brand new spectacles of the latest generation entice iOS users, the hefty prices once again become a major setback.

In a world grappling with economic challenges, it’s no wonder that consumers are growing more cautious about splurging on smartphones. As prices continue to soar, the idea of finding the cheapest country to buy an iPhone has become increasingly appealing to savvy buyers.

Citing Android Authority and Cashify, let’s dive into the global quest for the most affordable retail prices of the iPhone below.

Cheapest Country to Buy an iPhone

Defining the cheapest country to buy an iPhone requires a lengthy process, sorting over various important factors including each nation’s domestic and international tax duties.

Considering the wide range of retail prices and countless iPhone generations, it’s a daunting task to cover them all. To keep things focused and relevant, we’ll put a limitation on the most recent releases, iPhone 16 and iPhone 15, ensuring potential buyers can easily navigate the latest deals and make informed decisions.

When it comes to price comparison across international borders, the United States and Japan remain strong contenders among the cheapest countries to buy iPhone products. This trend has shown consistent data since the preorder periods of the iPhone 15 and now the iPhone 16.

With one of the strongest currencies worldwide, the consumers from the United States have relatively bigger buying power. On the other hand, Japan is a country where import duties are low, hence the large gap in its retail prices over other countries.

Comparison of iPhone 16 Pro Prices across Countries

Citing Travel Biz, here is a closer look at the variation of retail prices in multiple countries, including the cheapest ones, as of February 2025, converted to US dollars at the time of writing.

1. USA = US$999
2. South Korea = US$998
3. Canada = US$1,014
4. Japan = US$1,067
5. Hong Kong = US$1,106
6. Malaysia = US$1,127
7. Australia = US$1,144
8. UAE = US$1,170
9. Singapore = US$1,200
10. Thailand = US$1,186

Comparison of iPhone 15 Prices across Countries

A price decline of the iPhone 15 is pretty much expected since the attention shifted to the latest release of the flagships. According to the Apple Official Store, below is the brief conclusion of the prices, as of 2025, all converted to US dollars at the time of writing.

1. USA = US$699
2. South Korea = US$750
3. Canada = US$699
4. Japan = US$753
5. Hong Kong = US$772
6. Malaysia = US$789
7. Australia = US$794
8. UAE = US$816
9. Singapore = US$825
10. Thailand = US$799

Will iPhone 16 See a Price Drop?

There is a low possibility of the iPhone 16 experiencing a price drop several months after its release. Much like other generations, this series will retain its popularity for at least a few months into 2025 and probably the upcoming year until the next release is guaranteed.

While it’s nearly impossible to get discounted prices on the latest releases, consumers can consider buying from the countries listed above with the cheapest prices worldwide. However, be sure to adhere to safety measures when purchasing smartphones abroad, especially with iPhone flagships, where bootleg goods reportedly have a big circulation.

While the allure of snagging a bargain in the cheapest countries to buy an iPhone is tempting, it’s crucial to stay vigilant against counterfeit products and make informed decisions when purchasing abroad to ensure authenticity and value.

Editor's Note: Lists of the iPhone prices have been corrected.

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