iPhone 4S - from $199 but £499 in UK!

199 U dollars translates as around £128 for the 8GB 4S but it's £499 in the UK ($£399 =£257 / £699 for the 64GB version). It would be cheaper for me to get an airticket to New York and buy the iPhone there. Would it work over here in the UK? I could buy a handfull and become rich!!!!

Am I missing something or we we being ripped off big time?

Those prices are the subsidized prices and require a 2 year contract with a carrier at the time you purchase. The carrier is paying the balance of the price of the phone. There is a hefty charge for breaking that 2 yr contract also. Have not heard what one will cost without a contract.

Sawday - These are a more direct comparison:

iPhone 4S On Vodafone - iPhone 4S On Pay Monthly Plans - Vodafone

Three - Phones - Register

First off, here in the US we don't have a 8GB iPhone4s. It's 16/32/64GB.
The 8GB is only the regular iPhone4. I checked Vodafone and it's the same.

Also with Vodafone, it appears the Headset(phone) cost is cheaper with larger monthly plans. You could actually get the phone for free with some of there larger monthly plans. iPhone 4S On Vodafone - iPhone 4S On Pay Monthly Plans - Vodafone

Also, US Carriers require you to have a US SSN. If you sign up with out one, they have a very large deposit requirement. AT&T is $750.00.

In Spain the price of the iPhone 4 is still 3-400 euros (around 500$), with an 18 month contract (got Vodafone, but same price with other companies as well). In general the prices of Apple products are so much lower in the US compared to Europa (imo), at least to Spain.

Sawday said:

199 U dollars translates as around £128 for the 8GB 4S but it's £499 in the UK ($£399 =£257 / £699 for the 64GB version).

Click to expand...

I checked the UK Apple Store...I didn't see an 8gig iPhone 4s.

- Nick

I pre-ordered a 32gb iphone 4s today in the UK today and it cost me £599 which is reasonable as I can get a sim for only £10/month. This sim has 250mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data. So over a 24month period it works out at £839/$1260. I think most US carriers are working out at around $2000.

For 8Gb read 16Gb.
Ok Found the unlocked iPhone 4s for USA it's $649 on Apple that's about £417. Still more of a bargain over there but perhaps not enough to pay my airfare

Does the price you quote include VAT?

Note that the US prices include no sales tax, which varies from state to state (sometimes as high as 10%). You could buy one from a third party who doesn't do business in your state to avoid sales tax, but in general the prices you're seeing are not the "out the door" price.