New Delhi. A fresh TechArc study uncovers a stark price gap for Apple’s latest foldable, the iPhone Duo. When the device is examined across 14 different markets, it is markedly pricier in emerging economies such as India, Türkiye and the Philippines compared with affluent regions like the United States.
The research contrasted eight lower‑ and middle‑income nations – India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam and Türkiye – with six high‑income markets, including the US, UAE, Hong Kong, Canada, the UK and Germany.
Findings reveal that the average retail price of the iPhone Duo in the low‑ and middle‑income group hovers around $3,669, whereas consumers in high‑income markets pay roughly $2,248 on average.
Türkiye tops the price chart, with the device fetching about $4,741. The Philippines follows closely at approximately $4,519. Analysts attribute these inflated figures to a weakened local currency and hefty taxes on imported premium electronics.
In the South Asian corridor – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam – the handset’s price swings between $2,950 and $3,590. By contrast, the United States offers the iPhone Duo at the base price of $1,999, the lowest among all surveyed territories.
TechArc points to several levers that push the Indian price upward: import duties, a suite of taxes, volatile rupee‑dollar exchange rates and Apple’s own margin cushions. The phone arrives in India fully assembled, which subjects it to customs levies, and an 18 % GST is added on top of the base cost.
Manufacturers often embed additional buffers to protect against currency swings, a practice that can further inflate the final shelf price.
The study also suggests that Apple may be deliberately positioning the iPhone Duo as a luxury offering in developing regions, targeting affluent early adopters who can afford a premium‑priced foldable. This aligns with a broader strategy to cement the device’s status as a high‑end contender in the nascent foldable‑phone segment.
