IPhone 16 Pre-order Demand In Russia Soars Even Though Prices Are More Expensive 50% Compared To The West

Pre-order demand for the iPhone 16 in Russia increased 15% compared to its predecessor, (photo: x @KoiwaiNotice)

JAKARTA The demand for pre-orders for new iPhones in Russia has increased by 15% compared to its predecessor, although the price of this latest iPhone is at least 50% more expensive than in Western countries. According to one reseller on Friday, 20 sEPTEMBER, this trend comes despite Russia's market facing higher price constraints due to economic sanctions.

After Apple, along with many other Western companies, halted exports to Russia in response to the war in Ukraine by 2022, the Russian government legalized imports of "gray" or "parallel." With this rule, goods can enter without official permission from the brand. This allows Apple products to remain available in Russia, albeit through unofficial distribution channels.

Lyudmila Semushina, a spokesman for the restoring electronics retailer: said that the latest iPhones sold in Russia came from various countries, without specifying the origin of the country. Countries such as Turkey, China, India, Kazakhstan, and several other former Soviet Union countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia, have experienced increased trade with Russia since the conflict began.

"When compared to last year's pre-orders, demand this year is up 15%," Semushina said.

Pre-order orders have been open since September 10 and physical sales are expected to start next week. However, Russian consumers should accept the fact that prices will be higher. Electronic retailer M.Video reports that the price of the iPhone 16 with a capacity of 128GB will start from 112,999 rubles (around Rp. 18.5 million), much more expensive than the US price of only (Rp. 12.1 million).

Since major brands left Russia and switched to parallel imports, the company Semushina has no longer officially calculated how much Russian consumers have to pay. "There is an official price from retailers, there is also a price from gray sellers - those who carry their devices in suitcases - so prices can vary," he explained.

Semushina also added that her company had no more contact with Apple since the conflict began. In addition to stopping product sales in Russia in March 2022, the tech giant has also suspended services such as Apple Pay in the country.