Apple Raises iPhone Prices in Japan

[Dreamail]

That'll kill their sales for sure!

Japan in the past 2 years, thanks to the very weak Yen, has already seen a massive spike in the sale of refurbished used mobile phones.

That marketshare has risen to 12% recently. Every 8th phone currently "sold" in Japan is a used phone.

And people are also holding on to their older models for a lot longer. I can still spot so many iPhone minis in use. The last mini retired almost 3 years ago. And I bet not every mini still in use is that very last model bought just before it was retired. The first mini is more than 5 1/2 years old by now.
Typically people would replace their mobile phones every 2 years. Not anymore in Japan. They now hold on to it for 3, 4 years or even longer. All those minis still in use must be 4 years old on average...

Apple's sales in Japan are going to be even weaker, I think.
More than they already have.

 

[Ibookg6]

Carry trade transactions involving the yen have begun to decline.

 

[iHorseHead]

You’re completely out of touch with reality.

They earn more than the average wage in my country, yet iPhones were cheaper for them. I could pay my rent for 2 months or with the prices of new iPhones.
My rent is $500 converted to USD and a new iPhone, the newest model is $1000

So it's only fair in my opinion.

 

[Takeo Apple]

With the price increases, the phones in Japan aren't "a lot cheaper" than in the U.S.

The new pre-tax prices in Japan are as follows compared to current pre-tax U.S. prices:
iPhone 17 Pro Max is around ¥195,727 or $1,202 USD. Same phone in U.S. is $1,199.
iPhone 17 Pro is around ¥177,090 or $1,090 USD. Same phone in U.S. is $1,099.
iPhone 17 Air is around ¥161,636 or $995 USD. Same phone in U.S. is $999.
iPhone 17 is around ¥129,818 or $799 USD. Same phone in U.S. is $829.
iPhone 17e is around ¥98,000 or $603 USD. Same phone in U.S. is $599.
iPhone 16 is around ¥113,455 or $699 USD. Same phone in U.S. is $729.

They are pretty much the same (before tax).

There is no tax to be added in Japan.

 

[Takeo Apple]

They earn more than the average wage in my country, yet iPhones were cheaper for them. I could pay my rent for 2 months or with the prices of new iPhones.
My rent is $500 converted to USD and a new iPhone, the newest model is $1000

So it's only fair in my opinion.

You’re talking nonsense. Japanese are not rich, just because you live in a developing country.

 

[Furanoyama]

So a maxed out iPhone Pro Max is a full month’s average take-home in Japan…nope. Simply not worth it.

 

[Furanoyama]

well, 1. you are wrong, Apple does not provide any tax deduction anymore. 2. Apple does not even sell the iPhone 17 Pro (Max) in stores anymore in Japan, you have to buy online (basically a huge barrier for tourists) 3. I said you did not do the math - because the Yen is so low, it is still many hundred Dollars/Euros cheaper (even without tax exemption)

Apple doesn’t need to give the rebate, the government does and you collect the rebate at the airport. Apple stores absolutely do have 17PM in stock almost all the time.

 

[Furanoyama]

Noo, the Japanese people are rich.

On what planet do you think we are rich? A top on the line iPhone is a full month’s salary for most people. The average office job actually pays ¥250,000 ($1500) BEFORE deductions. Median salary is ¥300,000 ($1800). Actual salaries have been going down for 20 years.

 

[webkit]

But not mid-cycle.

So? They were still price decreases in Australia when USD was weaker. Apple price changes DON'T only work one way.

 

[webkit]

There is no tax to be added in Japan.

Japan has a consumption tax of 10% on items like smartphones. In Japan, the 10% has already been added to the posted/advertised price because it is the same percentage countrywide but in the U.S., sales tax is added after because it can vary by city/state. That's why I removed 10% (to make Japan prices pre-tax) when comparing to pre-tax U.S. prices.

As I stated, with the price increases, the phones in Japan aren't "a lot cheaper" than in the U.S. They are pretty much the same.

 

[Yr Blues]

IBM is still there and A.I. will take over the social computing torch and bring it to a whole new level.

A whole new level of soulless predictive gobbledygook.

 

[JM]

There’s no way America will be spared iPhone Price Increases 🥺 maybe $100 more isn’t that bad but I worry if it’s $200-$300 more….

No doubt.

$100 increase makes a lot of sense (considering all the comments regarding possibilities in the forums), but so does a $200 increase making 512gb the base. (Or just a $200 increase because of “new tech, and rising costs during these unprecedented times”

Maybe Apple should unleash the covid marketing speak again, and say something like “we’re better together, buying these iPhones” 😆

🤷‍♂️ whatever the price changes, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens.

 

[subjonas]

Apple news headlines from today, Apple raises prices on Music, Apple Raises Prices on iCloud, Apple raises prices in Japan. Apple becomes most valuable company.

It don't work that quickly lol

 

[@Brett]

Had about a $50 AUD price rise last release in Australia. But it had been fairly stable before that. Hoping they do not overprice the Ultra if they want it to sell.

 

[Abstract]

So? They were still price decreases in Australia when USD was weaker. Apple price changes DON'T only work one way.

Newly released iPhones are different products that are announced at a given price that may be different to their previous product, but has usually stayed the same throughout its life regardless of currency fluctuation. When they reduce a price on an existing product, it’s often a mid-cycle product that isn’t selling.

In this case, Apple are increasing the price of a given product (i.e. NOT a newly released product) when currency changes disadvantage them, but I don’t recall seeing Apple reduce prices on a product when a currency change benefits them, my example being the Aussie dollar. They’ve done so when releasing a new product, but not mid-cycle.

Regardless, my point isn’t even related to whether I like or dislike price changes due to currency. I actually think it’s appropriate. I just want to see Apple apply BOTH.

 

[uacd]

Japanese iPhones are very inconvenient. Never buy them in Japan. They have permanent shutter sound. But not just that. You take a screenshot - it makes a sound. You start screen recording - it makes a sound as well. And it does use FULL VOLUME. You can’t use your iPhone without cellular at all or else it constantly reverts to “Japan mode”. How can we have such stupid regulations and companies caving to them?

If Japan wants to fight upskirters they gotta increase police force instead of making useless permanent shutter sounds.

I can imagine it barely helps. Imagine a crowded metro station full of people and very noisy, how will shutter sound help? That law was DoA and Japanese politicians gotta realize how useless it is

 

[Shirasaki]

Japanese iPhones are very inconvenient. Never buy them in Japan. They have permanent shutter sound. But not just that. You take a screenshot - it makes a sound. You start screen recording - it makes a sound as well. And it does use FULL VOLUME. You can’t use your iPhone without cellular at all or else it constantly reverts to “Japan mode”. How can we have such stupid regulations and companies caving to them?

If Japan wants to fight upskirters they gotta increase police force instead of making useless permanent shutter sounds.

I can imagine it barely helps. Imagine a crowded metro station full of people and very noisy, how will shutter sound help? That law was DoA and Japanese politicians gotta realize how useless it is

Ok I didn’t know Japanese phones will produce full volume sound even when starting screen recording. That’s new to me and would make things quite awkward sometimes. But besides that, that’s why Japanese iPhones are configured that way. However stupid you may think those changes are, they are there to deter upskirters from doing so.

Not saying I’ll get Japanese iPhone even if they are cheaper than Australian version but that’s how Apple addresses their concerns however silly it might be, just like airdrop changes a couple years back.

 

[Ct applefan]

There’s no way America will be spared iPhone Price Increases 🥺 maybe $100 more isn’t that bad but I worry if it’s $200-$300 more….

Hence why I’ll keep my 15PM for another few years.

 

[webkit]

Newly released iPhones are different products that are announced at a given price that may be different to their previous product, but has usually stayed the same throughout its life regardless of currency fluctuation. When they reduce a price on an existing product, it’s often a mid-cycle product that isn’t selling.

In this case, Apple are increasing the price of a given product (i.e. NOT a newly released product) when currency changes disadvantage them, but I don’t recall seeing Apple reduce prices on a product when a currency change benefits them, my example being the Aussie dollar. They’ve done so when releasing a new product, but not mid-cycle.

Regardless, my point isn’t even related to whether I like or dislike price changes due to currency. I actually think it’s appropriate. I just want to see Apple apply BOTH.

My point remains that Apple price adjustments for exchange rates DON'T only go one way (even mid-cycle). In 2019, for example, Apple lowered prices mid-cycle in some countries due to exchange rates.

 

[Fallforward]

Japan Yen had an 8.3% decline since launch date last September. Next closest is Korea at 6.5%. The Euro declined 1.6%. Here is the impact on the iPhone Pro Max.....

Launch price ¥194,800 and USD $1,322 then declined to $1,199

New Japan price ¥214,800 and $1,323, or +$1.00 from $1,322

 

[gummybear2026]

My point remains that Apple price adjustments for exchange rates DON'T only go one way (even mid-cycle). In 2019, for example, Apple lowered prices mid-cycle in some countries due to exchange rates.

You can forget about Apple lowering prices going forward regardless of the cycle.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

That's why I'm sticking with my HTC Windows Phone. Also Im really enjoying driving my Saturn and working for Enron. I'm also planning to go to Fry's Electronics this weekend.

See you at the Blockbuster!

 

[nateo200]

Increasing the price of the 17e is absolutely wild. That phone is already cartoonishly overpriced. Ugh. I don't care about the Pro or Pro Max price increase its already so expensive that an 11% increase isnt much but still sucks lol

 

[webkit]

You can forget about Apple lowering prices going forward regardless of the cycle.

People have said similar in the past yet Apple still ended up lowering prices in some countries due to exchange rates.

 

[webkit]

Increasing the price of the 17e is absolutely wild.

Absolutely wild? Apple simply adjusted the Japan iPhone prices across the board due to exchange rate. With the increase, the pre-tax price of the Phone 17e in Japan is now around ¥98,000 or $603 USD. That essentially puts it back inline with the pre-tax $599 17e price in the U.S.