The cheapest iPhones in the world on sale in Russia

The price of iPhone 5s in Russia has decreased by approximately one third to become the lowest in the world, writes the RBK business daily.

As of January 13, the iPhone 5S for 16 GB costs just $326 in a number of popular retail chains. "The price of $326 is now the lowest in the world,” said Lyudmila Syomushina, a representative of the re: Store, a retailer, which sells Apple products. In Germany a similar model costs $552, while in the UK it costs $562 and in the U.S. — $450.

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The initiator of the pre-new year price reduction in Russia was Apple itself, three retailers told RBK. The press service of Apple did not respond to an RBK request. However, in the official Apple Store prices for all iPhone models, including 5s, remained at the same level — 36 990 rubles ($483) for iPhone 5s with 16 GB.

Reducing the selling price of iPhone 5s has provoked a surge in consumer demand. Since the reduction was made late last year, sales at the re: Store have increased significantly: purchases were up 36 percent in December 2015 compared to the same period a year earlier. The electronics chain Eldorado said that demand for 5s phones have grown 30 fold. Maria Zaikina, a representative of the Svyaznoy cellular retailer, said that the sale of iPhone 5s with 16 GB "have increased enormously" relative to the average sales of this model in 2015, and in comparison with the previous year’s Christmas period.

First published in Russian on RBK Daily.

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