China's iPhone 5 could be the most expensive in Asia
The iPhone 5 has been on the grey market in mainland China for more than two months now so most diehard Apple fans who want one, should already have one.
Still, the smartphone will fetch one of the highest handset prices in Asia. The first shipment of iPhone 5s is expected to reach the mainland's seven Apple stores on December 14.
Getting past the layers of bureaucracy as well as China's stringent telecoms regulator have become huge barriers to entry for Apple and mainland companies looking to offer the iPhone.
Other Apple products are also signficantly more expensive in mainland China. The Wi-fi version of the iPad mini is about 400 yuan (US$65) more expensive than it is in the US.
"Looks like money from us Chinese consumers is still better for companies to earn nowadays," wrote one blogger on Sina Weibo, China's main microblogging service.
High prices, a prolonged delay and cheaper handsets on sale in neighbouring Hong Kong are still unlikely to deter China’s Apple fanatics, however, from getting their hands on the new iPhone.
China is Apple's second-largest market after the United States.
Here’s a list of iPhone handset prices around the world compared with China:
16GB | 32GB | 64GB | |
China* | US$849 | US$978 | US$1,106 |
Hong Kong | $721 | $824 | $927 |
United States ** | $649 | $749 | $849 |
Singapore | $778 | $893 | $1,016 |
Taiwan * | $753 | $876 | $993 |
UK | $851 | $964 | $1,125 |
Prices collated from Apple websites. Tax not included.
* Not released
** Unlocked version