Apple Customers Rush to Buy iPhones Amid Fears Tariffs Could Cause Price Hikes

[The-Real-Deal82]

Apple could raise prices in the EU and elsewhere to compensate for the significant losses in the US, but I think Tim knows they would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did that.

Yes they could do that, but as you say, it would likely shoot themselves in the foot. I doubt it would compensate seeing as it would likely push consumers towards other brands that are offering better deals without the hikes. The EU and Europe as a whole is largely an Android market and with the cost rises in just about every sector, Apple have to play that one very carefully, especially if their competitors are not hiking their retail costs.

I paid £1199 for my iPhone 16 Pro Max, theres no way I'd consider going above that ever again and there is a lot of complaints about current costs as they are.

 

[webkit]

Don't worry guys, we've been paying a premium for iPhones compared to Americans for years and are always told, we deserve it because we have better return and warranty policies, or if we don't like it, we can just 'buy an Android'. I will take this opportunity to offer that advice back the other way.

As you know, a reason for "premium" pricing in the UK and EU is the VAT which doesn't benefit Apple or Americans. Take VAT (and sales tax in the U.S.) away, and prices can be pretty similar. For example, the pre-VAT price for a 128GB iPhone 16 in the UK is £665 which is currently around $849 USD. The pre-sales tax price for the same phone in the U.S. is $829. Not much of a difference especially considering the UK (and EU) have better warranty and return policies.

Hopefully you and/or your fellow citizens are at least able to get decent benefits from the high VAT you pay.

 

[beerseagulls]

it's 2025 and iPhones have been out for nearly 20 years.

why hasn't Apple figured out how to manufacture /assemble iPhones with little or no human intervention yet?

I say it's about time to have all the final assembly of iPhones done within the US, but in 99% automated factories that require no humans.(or just a couple of them for every 1 million units)

 

[0049190]

Not much of a difference especially considering the UK (and EU) have better warranty and return policies.

We don’t have better warranty and return policies in the U.K. All Apple products come with the same 1 year warranty as standard.

Our consumer protection laws regarding how long products should reasonably be expected to last are not the same as a warranty.

 

[cybercommand]

Your statement is true, however, your needs versus someone else's wants is irrelevant. If a person wants a new phone every year, more power to them. It is their money.

True but don’t complain over the cost 😆

 

[cptcaveman]

Apple could raise prices in the EU and elsewhere to compensate for the significant losses in the US, but I think Tim knows they would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did that.

Zero chance. With a glut of consumer electronics redirected to markets other than the US prices outside the US will go down.

 

[webkit]

We don’t have better warranty and return policies in the U.K. All Apple products come with the same 1 year warranty as standard.

Our consumer protection laws regarding how long products should reasonably be expected to last are not the same as a warranty.

UK consumer protection laws provide notably longer standard coverage for things like defects than what is offered in the U.S. My larger point, however, was that iPhone pricing can be pretty similar between the UK, EU and U.S. when you exclude VAT and sales tax.

 

[0049190]

UK consumer protection laws provide notably longer standard coverage for things like defects than what is offered in the U.S. My larger point, however, was that iPhone pricing can be pretty similar between the UK, EU and U.S. when you exclude VAT and sales tax.

I’m sorry but you are wrong. U.K. consumer protection laws DO NOT provide extended warranties for Apple products. You clearly don’t understand how the law works here in the U.K.

This article provides a good summary:

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act-aKJYx8n5KiSl

 

[webkit]

I’m sorry but you are wrong. U.K. consumer protection laws DO NOT provide extended warranties for Apple products. You clearly don’t understand how the law works here in the U.K.

This article provides a good summary:

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act-aKJYx8n5KiSl

Which is better than protection terms in the U.S.