iPhone 6 cost in U.S for $199?

[simonvee]

Why is there such a significant price variation between the iPhone 6 (16GB) in the US compared to other countries (e.g. Australia, Canada)?

It's $199 + tax (16GB) in the US and $869 (includes tax) in Australia for example.

$1 AUD = $0.90 USD

 

[ycl1688]

No, for $199 you have to have carrier to get that price, then the carrier fleece you for the contract that charges roughly $40-50 monthly for two years, it will be 24 months = $700 or more. This is America everyone tries to make money.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Or put differently, the $199, $299, $399 prices for the different iPhone 6 varieties is the subsidized price with the 2 year contract. If you were to buy the phone outright like you can elsewhere it would cost you $649 for 16GB, $749 for 64GB and $849 for 128GB..

 

[simonvee]

Oh yes, I forgot how expensive phone carriers are in North America.

In Australia I pay $67 (include tax) per month for 21 months- Unlimited calls, texting and MMS, 2 GB of data
The iPhone would cost $0

The Apple (US) site was quite misleading. It mentioned $199 but did not transparently state anything about being on a monthly plan.
On the Australian Apple website, it simply stated the outright cost.

 

[RustProofCorn]

Oh yes, I forgot how expensive phone carriers are in North America.

In Australia I pay $67 (include tax) per month for 21 months- Unlimited calls, texting and MMS, 2 GB of data
The iPhone would cost $0

The Apple (US) site was quite misleading. It mentioned $199 but did not transparently state anything about being on a monthly plan.
On the Australian Apple website, it simply stated the outright cost.

Not that it matters to me because i live in the states but i am confused about your comment.

Are you saying they will give you a free iPhone if you go on contract of 67/month? If so holy cow i don't see how they make any money like that.

On the other hand if you are saying 67/month plus you have to buy the i really don't see how that is any cheaper than here. A AT&T plan for what you mentioned is around 65/month if you buy the phone.

 

[simonvee]

Yep, they give you a free phone! Pay $0
$67 is all I pay every month unless if I use extra data. After every 21 months they give me a phone free. Pay $0 for it as long as I'm on a contract with them.

Over here, phone companies are very competitive, so it gets cheaper every year. Another good thing with my phone company is if I use 1GB over the limit they'll just charge me $10 increments instead of hundreds or thousands of dollars like the U.S.

However, that was amount was with the Samsung S4 a year ago. The iPhone 6 is more expensive

Attached is the one for iPhone 6. However, this is most likely to go down in price after a few months
Ps. In Australia, whatever price you see is whatever price you pay. It is tax inclusive

 

[chscag]

Another good thing with my phone company is if I use 1GB over the limit they'll just charge me $10 increments instead of hundreds or thousands of dollars like the U.S.

Only a slight exaggeration!

 

[RustProofCorn]

Although that looks good over a 21 month contract it looks like you can have roughly the same cost with AT&T here in the states.

you would be a total of 1659 over the 21 months

AT&T would be 1759 for the 24 months after paying for the 199 fee. And if they let you upgrade early with att which they will most of the time at 21 months you would only be at 1564 after the 199.

So at first glance i thought you were getting a swinging deal but they have to pay for the phone somewhere.

 

[harryb2448]

Well to purchae an iPhone 6 Down Under the cost is $869.00.

To use a plan through a Telco, be prepred to be STUNG BIG TIME in call charges and extras. Like the old saying there is no such thing as a free lunch!


iPhone 6 - Pre-order the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. - Apple Store (Australia)

Scroll down to the iPhone6 at $50.00/$62.00 a month for two years with 500MB per month. Note the charges after that:-


http://www.whistleout.com.au/Mobile...Phone+4S+New&gclid=CNuD_qfX4cACFdcRvQodeogAKQ

 

[vansmith]

Yep, they give you a free phone! Pay $0
$67 is all I pay every month unless if I use extra data. After every 21 months they give me a phone free. Pay $0 for it as long as I'm on a contract with them.

Hmm, I can get an iPhone 6 for $265 on contract but I only pay $44/mo for 450 minutes, 600MB of data and unlimited texting. Over a 21 month period, I'd be paying $1189 and you'd be paying $1260 (the CAD and AUD are effectively of equal value). So, I pay less and get more. Oh my, I didn't think I'd ever say that as a Canadian with regards to telco options.

Another good thing with my phone company is if I use 1GB over the limit they'll just charge me $10 increments instead of hundreds or thousands of dollars like the U.S.

Here, CRTC regulations state that a telco is not legally allowed to charge you more than $50 in overages. So, I could theoretically use 1TB of LTE data in a month and only be charged $94/mo for service.

Seriously, I've defended the telco industry in Canada twice now. I must not be feeling well.

 

[chas_m]

LOL Van, indeed these must be the End Times we are living in! A Canadian telco with a reasonable deal! Saints preserve us! (at least they still have outrageous US roaming charges, that's some comfort).

 

[chas_m]

But just to clarify what simonvee is saying, he's being a bit misleading by claiming the iPhone is $0. In fact -- like a lot of US plans these days -- he's paying $19 a month for the iPhone, and $50 or whatever for his plan (see the chart he posted). $25 times 24 months = $600. $50x24= $1,200. Total over two years = $1,800.

T-Mobile offers a nearly identical plan, as do some of the others.