Apple hikes iPhone retail prices in India by as much as Rs 2,500 ($40)

Starting today, purchasing an iPhone in India will require you to pay more. The Cupertino-based company has revised the retail price of its entire iPhone range in the world’s second most populous nation. While the company is yet to officially offer an explanation behind the price bump, it is likely because of the changes introduced in the recent budget in the country. The new iPhones will cost Rs 2,500 ($40) more than the previous retail price.

First reported by FoneArena, the 16GB variant of iPhone 6, which was launched in India late last year for Rs 53,500 ($860) will now set consumers back by Rs 56,000 ($900). Similarly, the 64GB iPhone 6 is now available at Rs 65,000 ($1,045) while the top-of-the-line 128 gigs edition costs Rs 74,000 ($1,188). The iPhone 6 Plus now costs Rs 65,000 ($1,045), 74,000 ($1,188) and Rs 83,000 ($1,132) for 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage-specced variants respectively.

The new iPhones aren’t the only models impacted by the price hike. The 8GB iPhone 5c now costs Rs 33,500 ($538), while the iPhone 5s lineup will set you back by Rs 47,000 ($755) for the 16GB variant, and Rs 51,500 ($827) for the 32GB edition.

Last week, the new budget came into effect in India. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the budget in Parliament wherein the government had excised the duty structure for mobiles handsets imported to India. A couple of revisions including increased duty benefits for domestic players were made that would boost local manufacturing of mobiles phones and tablets in the country. The excise duty structure for mobile handsets was changed from 6 percent with CENVAT credit to 1 percent without the same.

from BetaNews http://feeds.betanews.com/~r/bn/~3/y3OuKRocuMw/

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