Apple has finally decided to reveal the pricing of the SIM-free
iPhone 5
models in the United States as well as several other countries. While,
the availability details are known for some of these countries, there is
no word on when unlocked iPhone 5 will be out in the United States.
The
unlocked pricing of Apple products in US also gives an idea on how the
same products will be priced in India. The company has priced 16GB
iPhone 5 at $649, 32GB at $749 and 64GB at $849.
These prices
translate to around Rs.35, 480 for 16GB version, Rs. 40,962 for 32GB
version and Rs. 46,431 for the 64GB version, at the current exchange
rate. Typically, the Apple iPhone/iPad is priced around their US
unlocked pricing plus 30 percent of that cost. This 30 percent account
for the customs duty and other taxes that Indian government levies on
these products.
So, according to this logic, the iPhone 5 is
expected to be priced around Rs. 46,120 (16GB version), Rs. 53,250 (32GB
version) and Rs. 60,360 (64GB version). However, there is no official
confirmation on these prices or the India launch date right now. Rumours
however suggest that iPhone 5 might be released in India part of the
third batch countries, which are yet to be revealed. (Also see: iPhone 5 now available for pre-order)
According to
Apple, the iPhone 5 unlocked models will go on sale in the United States
"in the coming weeks". The company however did not give a fixed date.
Challenges of buying unlocked iPhone 5 from other countries and then using in India
The
most important factor in your unlocked iPhone 5 purchase outside India,
should be the availability of nano-SIM cards. As there is still no
confirmation on nano-SIM availability in the country, so even if you get
an iPhone 5 from UK, Hong Kong or Singapore, you won't be able to use
it as your primary device and it will just be a bulkier and thicker iPod
Touch for you. So, think before calling up your friends to get you an
iPhone 5 before securing a nano-SIM card, because you cannot cut and
make a nano-SIM out of a normal SIM-card or micro-SIM card. More on
nano-SIM cards here.
iPhone 5 launch in pics