Apple's Aggressive iPhone Pricing in Japan Sparks Concern
Apple's new iPhone lineup has been announced in Japan, but its pricing strategy is creating controversy. The company's first foldable model, the iPhone Duo, starts at ¥364,800 (256GB), which implies an effective exchange rate of approximately $1 = ¥195 when calculated from the U.S. price.
This is a significant shift from the market rate, which has been trading in the ¥153 range as of September 10. The price disparity is particularly striking in high-capacity models, with the iPhone Duo's 2TB model costing ¥429,800, implying an effective rate of approximately $1 = ¥195.
The yen's recent appreciation has not been reflected in Apple's pricing strategy, which may lead to consumer dissatisfaction. In contrast, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold8 (256GB) carries a domestic launch price of ₩2.2781 million (approximately $1,700) in South Korea, about ₩270,000 (approximately $200) lower than the equivalent U.S. price.