Buying an iPhone in Dubai vs buying an iPhone in India? The major pros and cons

For Apple fans in India, a big question every time they plan to buy an iPhone is whether to buy in India or get it from abroad. Here, two of the countries usually considered a good option to buy iPhones are UAE and USA. In fact, every time new iPhones launch, social media is full of posts showing price comparison of iPhones in India vs that in other countries. Usually, what these price comparison stories and tables do not factor in is local taxes, which in the case of the USA varies from state to state. In Dubai, it does not include GST. Here we will look at buying iPhone 16 series models in Dubai. What are the pros and cons of the same?

iPhone 16 series price in India vs price in Dubai

iPhone 16 series price in UAE

Pros of buying iPhone in Dubai vs India

Cost savings: The obvious advantage is cost savings. The price of iPhones in Dubai is lower than in India for Pro models. The price difference can be significant, potentially saving up to Rs 30,000, depending on the variant you buy. But please note that there is no savings if you plan to buy non-Pro iPhone models, it may be slightly more.

Cons of buying iPhone in Dubai

No cost savings: If you are buying a non-Pro model, there is absolutely no cost savings. In fact, you may end up paying a little bit more. Reason being, Apple authorised retailers in India offer discounts on non-Pro models, which brings their prices down. Some of the best exchange and card offers are available on non-Pro iPhone models.Lose out on Bank offers and exchange discounts: Buying from Dubai means you will miss out on Bank offers and exchange discounts. You will not get an exchange discount on any smartphone not bought in the UAE. Retailers in India offer trade-in deals and discounts that can offset the price difference. iPhones bought online may have different terms and conditions of warranty: Apple offers international warrant on all its products. However, if the product is not portable, warranty service may be restricted to the country where the device was purchased from. Service options, parts availability and response times will vary according to country. You may be responsible for shipping and handling charges if the product cannot be serviced in the country it is in. FaceTime restrictions: UAE policy against video calling may affect FaceTime usage on iPhones bought from Apple Store in Dubai. Potential import duties: You may have to pay import duties and taxes on your iPhone when you bring it back to India. One way to avoid it is to get it without packaging, but that again is a trade off.