With the local launch of the Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus that is hot off the press, those wanting to buy the new devices are bracing for a large financial knock.
Imported version of the 6s and 6s Plus are already for sale through online retailers, with the 128GB Rose Gold version of the 6s going for R18,999 on Takealot.
MTN and Vodacom opened pre-orders for the new devices on 9 October, with the smartphones that launch in South Africa on 16 October.
Here are some of the most expensive smartphones currently available in SA – to provide a marker for what you may pay for the latest iPhones.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5: R11,700
- Apple iPhone 6 (128GB): R13,999
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+: R11,499
- Apple iPhone 6 Plus (128GB): R13,999
- Huawei Mate S: R11,969
The devices are available for ordering on the South African iStore website, with Space Grey, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold colour options to choose from. The phones have been available from the iStore in South Africa on 16 October.
The new iPhone is launched much later in South Africa than in countries like the United States, Australia, and Britain. With South African prices now released, we can take a look at how local prices compare against international pricing – as detailed in the table below.
| Phone | Models | US | AUS | UK | Finland | SA |
| iPhone 6S | 16GB | R9,538 | R10,563 | R11,039 | R11,529 | R11,799 |
| iPhone 6S | 64GB | R11,007 | R12,032 | R12,677 | R13,200 | R13,599 |
| iPhone 6S | 128GB | R12,477 | R13,500 | R25,316 | R14,871 | R15,499 |
| iPhone 6S Plus | 16GB | R11,077 | R12,032 | R12,677 | R13,200 | R13,599 |
| iPhone 6S Plus | 64GB | R12,477 | R13,500 | R14,316 | R14,871 | R15,499 |
| iPhone 6S Plus | 128GB | R13,947 | R14,969 | R16,159 | R16,542 | R17,499 |
*Exchange rates used in relation to ZAR: AUD (9.79); GBP (20.48); EUR (15.19); USD (13.36)
Takealot’s Insane Pricing
Takealot has listed pricing for imported versions of the Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, with the 128GB Rose Gold version of the 6s going for R18,999.
The imported versions was shipped to South Africa before the phone’s official launch in the country on 16 October. Some of the listings also state that the devices have been “imported without the approval of the manufacturer or its licensed supplier”.
The site stated that these goods will not be covered by the warranty of the manufacturer or its licensed supplier. However, the 1-year warranty “will be covered by Takealot.com in partnership with our vendor.”
