News & Analysis

iPhone 15: Better Get it from the U.S.

For the first time, the company would be selling a new model that’s assembled in India, but the costs are as prohibitive as ever

It was a matter of pride for India that Apple shifted some of its iPhone production from China. However, the company’s new flagship iPhone 15 series continues to be as cost prohibitive as the earlier models, in spite of the fact that they’re assembled locally in the country. Quite a disappointment to those who expected ‘Make in India’ to translate into lower prices! 

Before delving into the entire theatrics around Apple’s annual launch event, we thought it fit to first you with the details of the iPhone 15 models and prices in India. The iPhone 15 base model would cost Rs.79,900 in India, which works out costlier than the $799 it costs in the US. And this trend continues for all models where US prices are lower than Indian ones. 

The iPhone 15 Pro would sell at Rs.1,34,900 that translates to $1628, which is a full $600 costlier than the $999 that it would cost you in the United States. The iPhone 15 Pro will cost you Rs.1,59,900 in India as against $1,199 in Apple’s home country – a full $730 dollars more expensive in the country of assembly. 

However, one cannot really blame Apple for the price differential. What the government won’t tell you is that the Indian rupee has considerably depreciated in value against the dollar over the past year and more. Even the iPhone 14 prices were substantially higher compared to the costs that a customer paid in the United States. 

We believe these price comparisons may have thrown some cold water on plans that some of our readers may have had of acquiring the latest model of Apple’s flagship handset. However, fear not, because as always a new model drastically reduces prices of the immediate previous ones, which ironically remains relevant in spite of incremental changes to the new model. 

Of course, we don’t really want to go into the second-class treatment that Apple has meted out to India ever since the launch of its first iPhone back in 2007. Despite paying a premium, the company does not provide access to several services to Indian users. These include Apple Pay, Fitness Plus and News Plus. Not to mention the savings one gets in the US by using Apple Cards or the feature-less Siri and Apple Maps that are mere appendages in India. 

So, what does the iPhone15 bring? 

(Source: Apple) 

As anticipated the new device brings several familiar features such as a dynamic island cutout, an updated port that finally gets Apple to join the USB-C bandwagon. It is powered by the new A16 bionic chip that delivers ultra wideband and better FindMy functionality. Voice isolation is enhanced while battery life is said to be better (which has been the refrain now after each launch). In other words, not much has changed from the previous edition. 

The higher end Pro and Pro Max models deliver faster transfer speeds via the USB 3 spec, which of course means extra money as you need to get a separate cable. They support Qi2 standards, which is an improved version of MagSafe with faster wireless charging speeds. However, Apple is really kicked by the titanium case for the Pro, which makes it stronger and lighter – a deadly combination. 

There’s an Action button borrowed from the Apple Watch Ultra that replaces the Mute button. Of course, if you are a fan of Mute, then you only need to assign that feature to this button. Then there is the 5x optical telephoto that offers better zoom without downgrading the image. A new 3D sensor offers enhanced optical stabilization for such shots.

Apple Watch 9 series makes the Net-zero cut

In addition to its flagship handsets, Apple also unveiled the Apple Watch Series 9, which the company says is their first-ever carbon neutral product. The new device is powered by the S9 chip which is 60% faster and comes with a GPU that’s 30% faster too. The WatchOS provides a Name Drop feature that allows users to share personal data when close to another user. 

(Source: Apple) 

Then there’s the Ultra Wideband that brings more interoperability with the HomePad and the FindMy functionality. The display gets 2,000 nts of brightness while Siri now allows users to get health updates via voice. There’s also the Double Tap feature that detects small movements and blood flow when the user taps their index finger and thumb together. This can be used to perform functions such as answering a call or turning off an alarm. 

Upgrades to iCloud and release of iOS17

In addition to these launches, Apple also revealed two additional tiers for iCloud Plus, its cloud storage subscription. New joinees can store 6TB or 12TB of data that could prove useful to photographers and movie makers, especially given the camera upgrades to the iPhone 15 range of handsets. 

Last but not the least, here’s something that all Apple fans can rejoice over. The latest version of the mobile OS is scheduled to launch next Monday (September 17). Whether you acquire a new handset or not, iPhone users would be able to download the software that provides new features across all first-party apps such as Messages, FaceTime etc. 

It will introduce a new feature called Live Voicemail, FaceTime audio and video messages, contact posters that allows users to appear to others during incoming calls, and Name Drop that shares contacts by bringing phones close to each other. There’s a new Check in feature that allows users to notify family when they’ve reached their destination. 

The Standby feature offers a full-screen experience when the phone is on its side with glanceable information and widgets, clocks, photos and notifications. A first-party app called Journal allows users to track their day and well-being while other improvements include private browsing on Safari, support for passkeys, and new mental health features. 

Overall, it appears as though the upgrades to the operating system are far more useful to users of Apple products than the flagship handset. More so, when the latter puts a far bigger burden on the purse when purchased in India. 

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