Apple has trimmed the prices of its newest iPhones in a country where their cost is beyond the reach of most consumers, according to a news report.The company has lowered prices on its iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus by up to 16 percent in India as demand for the devices fell following their launch in October, the India-based Economic Times reported Monday.The 16GB iPhone 6S now sells for 52,000 to 55,000 rupees ($784 to $830), down from 62,000 rupees ($935) two months ago, four large retailers told the Economic Times. The price cuts extend to all models and capacities.
Apple apparently needs to be more price competitive in India, the world's third largest smartphone market behind China and the US. Indian consumers typically gravitate toward phones priced under $300, such as those made by Chinese vendor Xiaomi and local brand Micromax. Apple has been grappling with weaker demand for its iPhone 6S lineup in India and just a 2 percent market share as chief rival Samsung leads the field with lower-cost phones manufactured in the country.
With a population of more than 1.2 billion people, India is a critical battleground for smartphone makers. It became the world's fastest growing smartphone marketlast year, research firm IDC said in November 2014. India is expected to surpass the US as the world's second-largest smartphone market behind China in 2017, Strategy Analytics said in July. It has also been the most expensive place in the world to buy an iPhone.
No comments:
Post a Comment