On Nov. 3, Apple will release its first completely redesigned flagship phone in over three years: the iPhone X. It can be pre-ordered from Oct. 27.
The new phone will feature an OLED edge-to-edge screen, TrueDepth front-facing camera, Face ID authentication instead of Touch ID, and the powerful new A11 Bionic processing chip. The ultra-premium phone also features a whopping $1,000 price tag. But it appears the cost hasn’t tempered enthusiasm for the X: consumers seem to be foregoing an upgrade to the new iPhone 8, choosing to wait for the X—the phone Apple calls “the future.”
Based on the retail prices listed on Apple’s various global sites, we looked at the cost* of the 64GB iPhone X in the countries where it will be available for purchase and ranked them in terms of their dollar, yuan, and pound equivalents.
Long story short: Don’t buy your iPhone in Hungary.
iPhone X price in US dollars
The iPhone X starts at $999 for the 64 GB version and the 256 GB model costs $1,149 in the US. But if you live elsewhere, you will likely end up paying a lot more than that.
The iPhone X costs over the USD equivalent of $1,200 in most countries, with Hungary being the most expensive at the USD equivalent of $1,455.23, almost 50% more than the US price.
iPhone X price in Chinese yuan
For years, many of the earliest buyers of the iPhone in stores in the US (paywall) and elsewhere have been Chinese people looking to resell the phones in China for a steep markup. Since 2010, Apple has been selling the iPhone in China directly and is still fighting for dominance in the world’s biggest smartphone market (paywall).
Apple has been hoping to ramp up its business in India and China, whose markets are forecast to grow significantly over the next few years. Though it doesn’t appear to have adjusted prices to encourage consumers to make the switch; it’s cheaper for consumers to purchase an iPhone X in Hong Kong or Taiwan than it is to buy one in mainland China.
iPhone X in British pounds
In the aftermath of Brexit, the pound lost almost a fifth of its value and settled into a slump against the dollar, meaning most things became a lot more expensive for Brits. Which means that consumers in the UK will end up paying over 30% more than they would if they bought an iPhone X in the US.
As of Sept. 20, iPhone X retail prices were not available on Apple’s website in Andorra, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, or Slovenia
But—check the sales tax!
While it’s traditionally cheaper to buy Apple products in the US, savvy consumers should do their due diligence
Across the board, Hungarians will end up paying the most for the iPhone X, while consumers in the US will pay the least. But Apple fans in the US looking to score a deal might think about a trip to Japan; US prices do not include sales tax, which varies widely between states, and can add a significant amount to the final purchase price (i.e. iPhone users in Alabama will pay close to 10% sales tax, but residents of New Hampshire won’t pay any tax at all.)
In countries where the sales tax is the same in all areas, Apple’s prices typically include tax in the total amount. So, buying an iPhone X in Hungary in reality is a better deal than it appears because the price includes VAT.
When does the iPhone X go on sale?
Apple staggered the sale date of the iPhone 8 around the world, but is releasing the X on the same day for everyone.
Consumers will be able to pre-order the iPhone starting Oct. 27 and purchase it beginning Friday, Nov. 3, in Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, the US ,and US Virgin Islands.
* These tables were created using exchange rates on Oct. 20, 2017