Why are 'Japanese iPhones' always cheap?

iPhone 17 series at an Apple Store in Japan. Photo: K-tao .

Recently, the Japanese ICT Research Institute published a report on smartphone prices in Japan compared to other countries in the world's 20 largest economies . The results showed that iPhone prices in the Land of the Rising Sun are 20% lower on average. The same thing happens with tablets and Android phones.

The study comes amid geopolitical tensions, rising raw material and shipping costs, which impact end products and make consumers uncomfortable. However, these issues do not seem to affect the Japanese market.

Specifically, a report by the Japan ICT Research Institute shows that the iPhone 17 line is being sold in this country for around 129,000 yen, which is 20.5% lower than the average of G20 countries. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 model in this country costs 114,800 yen, 19.7% lower than the average. Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi lines in the Japanese market are also 10-20% cheaper than international prices, depending on the model. In summary, 100% of the phones tested in this country are lower than the G20 average.

Comparison table of mobile phone prices in Japan (purple) and G20 countries (white). Photo: Japan ICT Research Institute.

“The impact of tariffs from the Trump administration is still attracting attention. The prices of smartphones and tablets at the time of the survey tended to increase slightly compared to before. But overall, the fact that Japan has cheaper phones than other countries remains unchanged,” the Japan ICT Research Institute concluded.

According to trinity.jp, maintaining low prices may be part of Apple's long-term plan. This is one of the first international markets where Apple distributed the iPhone. At the same time, Apple's phone market share here is also much higher than the general level. The average level is 50-70% depending on the period, higher than the company's home country, the US.

In addition, import taxes on electronic products in this country are also set at a significantly lower level than in China and Europe.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, the distribution system that depends on carriers also helps to reduce product prices. Instead of the Apple Store system or supermarkets, Japanese people buy mobile phones through carriers. The price of the product when it reaches the customer is almost zero. Users pay for the network package monthly as a form of installment payment. In return, mobile phone prices and integrated packages in this country are complained by users because they are too expensive compared to their income.

“The low prices of Apple products bought in Japan have long been known. And that has not changed even now, with the yen weakening. When I work abroad and temporarily return to my country, people often ask me to buy them an iPhone. They were released earlier in Japan and are cheaper,” one user commented on social media.

Source: https://znews.vn/tai-sao-iphone-nhat-luon-re-post1596936.html