Apple iPhone 15 was launched in September for Rs 79,900.
It is now possible to find the base model of the iPhone 15 with 128GB storage at a discounted price of around Rs 65,000, making it more affordable than its retail price in the US.
It is possible that you may find it surprising, but it is now cheaper and more convenient to purchase an iPhone 15 in India compared to the United States. This is due to various offers and deals available on websites such as Flipkart, which have resulted in a lower entry price for the iPhone 15 series. However, it is important to note that this only applies to the standard models, as the Pro lineup remains relatively expensive in India.
We can say this because the iPhone 15 was initially launched in India at a price of Rs 79,900, which was approximately Rs 13,000-14,000 higher compared to its price in the United States. However, due to various offers and promotions, it is now possible to find the base model of the iPhone 15 with 128GB storage at a significantly discounted price of around Rs 65,000, making it more affordable than its retail price in the US.
iPhone 15 Deal: How The Math Works Out
The iPhone 15 128GB variant has a retail price of $799 in the United States, excluding sales tax. When sales tax is taken into account, the price conversion to Indian rupees comes out to around Rs 70,000 to Rs 72,000. However, it is important to note that not all states in the United States impose sales tax. Directly comparing this to the current market in India (approximately Rs 65,000), it is evident that the price of the iPhone 15 128GB is higher by approximately Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 in the US.
To support this claim, we just saw a deal on Flipkart where the iPhone 15 is being sold for Rs 65,999 and can be combined with bank offers for the final effective price to come out to around Rs 62,224—making it almost Rs 9,000 to 10,000 cheaper than the US price. And, this isn’t an isolated offer; we have been seeing the iPhone 15 for under Rs 70,000 for the last month or so.
That said, the same can’t be said for the iPhone 15 Pro models, which continue to be sold for near the MRP starting at Rs 1,34,900—making it almost Rs 50,000 more expensive in India.
US Models Don’t Have Physical SIM Slots
An additional advantage of purchasing an Indian unit is the added convenience that the inclusion of a physical SIM card slot brings. In the United States, Apple has removed the physical SIM slot in favor of having only eSIM. This can be a dealbreaker for many individuals, particularly those who frequently travel and require the ability to change their SIM cards.
Ergo, if you want to buy the vanilla iPhone 15, we advise purchasing it from India. Not only are the units sold in the country manufactured locally, but they are also more affordable and include a SIM card slot.
