What's the cheapest country to buy a new iPhone in?
October 20, 2019 6:38 AM Subscribe
I've got some time on my upcoming holiday break and I've got some international flights so I'm happy to take a layover to hit an Apple store in a country if it'll save me a couple of bucks. But which one? Currency? Taxes? Etc? Where's the best country to buy an iPhone in December?
What's your country of residence? You'll want to factor in duty you might owe on return too.
posted by hoyland at 7:01 AM on October 20, 2019
posted by hoyland at 7:01 AM on October 20, 2019
The US is the cheapest country in which to buy an iPhone, with Hong Kong, Japan and the UAE also being less expensive than average but more expensive than the US.
To avoid all taxes, buying an iPhone in the US states of Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire or Oregon where there are effectively no sales taxes would generally be the cheapest, contingent on the tax obligation you would have on return to your own place of residence.
posted by I EAT TAPAS at 7:06 AM on October 20, 2019 [10 favorites]
To avoid all taxes, buying an iPhone in the US states of Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire or Oregon where there are effectively no sales taxes would generally be the cheapest, contingent on the tax obligation you would have on return to your own place of residence.
posted by I EAT TAPAS at 7:06 AM on October 20, 2019 [10 favorites]
Like the article linked by phatkitten says, the iPhones sold in other countries may include different cell phone frequency bands that are not compatible with the U.S. I would double check the cell phone bands on any phone you buy abroad.
posted by mundo at 7:31 AM on October 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by mundo at 7:31 AM on October 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
+1 just to buy it in the US while paying as little tax as possible. This international woman of mystery can attest that phones bought internationally often dont register a US Sim, even of the same carrier as the purchase country.
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:18 AM on October 20, 2019
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:18 AM on October 20, 2019
Buy it in a state with no sales tax, use your Apple Card to get 3% cash back?
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:58 AM on October 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:58 AM on October 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
You’re unlikely to get a layover in any of the US states with no sales tax. (Maybe with a long enough layover at Philadelphia you can make it to Delaware? But the cost of getting there will eat up the tax savings.)
posted by madcaptenor at 10:43 AM on October 20, 2019
posted by madcaptenor at 10:43 AM on October 20, 2019
Also, the Applecare warranty with an international model might not be valid upon your return to your place of residence.
posted by Jade Dragon at 11:50 AM on October 20, 2019
posted by Jade Dragon at 11:50 AM on October 20, 2019
If you actually want useful advice on this it might help to know where you are and where you are trying to get to, so that we might know where reasonable layovers could be.
posted by madcaptenor at 4:25 PM on October 20, 2019
posted by madcaptenor at 4:25 PM on October 20, 2019
Response by poster: Right now I'm in Japan. Buying one here is a non-starter because the cameras on phones here MUST by law make a loud click sound. I appreciate that as an idea but not great for animal photography.
So I will be (or can be) going through Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and possibly Korea.
posted by rileyray3000 at 1:48 AM on October 21, 2019
So I will be (or can be) going through Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and possibly Korea.
posted by rileyray3000 at 1:48 AM on October 21, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:55 AM on October 20, 2019