Mobile sellers in Pakistan demand Rs100,000 to pre-book iPhone 16 with no exact delivery date

ISLAMABAD: Mobile phone shop owners in Pakistan are asking interested customers to pay Rs100,000 to book an Apple iPhone 16 without promising an exact delivery date.

Newer models of Apple iPhones are known for their hefty prices, especially at the time they are announced. Mobile importers in Pakistan try to extract as much money as they can from those who want the latest iPhone as soon as it becomes available on the international market.

As expected, shopkeepers this year have started implementing the same strategy they used during the iPhone 15 launch. For those who may not recall, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was sold for as high as Rs950,000 by local shopkeepers last year and was listed online for up to Rs900,000, a price reportedly paid by some early buyers.

With no official Apple store in the country, shopkeepers exploit the situation by setting their own prices. It is anticipated that shopkeepers importing the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will again sell these models at steep prices. Some shopkeepers have already informed customers that these models will be “pricier than the older models,” despite Apple not making significant changes to the iPhone’s pricing.

According to reports, pre-booking will start on September 13, with deliveries at local stores expected after September 21, 2024.

When asked about the price, a shopkeeper stated, “Due to bookings and late deliveries, the iPhone 16 is expected to be sold at higher prices during the pre-booking phase. The price is expected to normalise 2-3 months after launch when delivery times are standard.”

The seller added that “after you pay Rs100,000, you will learn the exact price on September 21 or at the time of delivery.”

It is also worth noting that after purchasing an iPhone 16, buyers will need to pay an additional PTA approval fee to use a SIM card with their device.

The PTA fee or tax on the iPhone 16 is currently unknown and has not been officially announced but is expected to be similar to or below Rs200,000, consistent with the iPhone 15 series.

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