iPhone 16 and 17 prices drop up to 19% in UAE ahead of iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 18

Dubai: E-commerce platforms and retail outlets have recently introduced price reductions on a number of previous iPhone models, coinciding with the approaching launch date of the highly anticipated new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models in the country’s markets, scheduled for Friday, September 18. A survey of a number of retail outlets revealed price offers on previous versions of iPhones, with discounts ranging between 10.6% and 19%, mainly including iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models in various categories and specifications. The most notable offers included the sale of the iPhone 16 with 128GB of storage for Dh2,751, compared to a previous price of Dh3,399. The discounts also included offering the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB of storage at a price of Dh4,179, instead of its previous price of Dh5,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro with 256GB of storage was offered at a price of Dh4,199, compared to a previous price of Dh4699. Consumers considered the discounts offered to be a positive development in the markets, as they allow those wishing to purchase these devices to obtain them at low prices. Meanwhile, retail officials considered that the offers were due to the increased intensity of competition in the markets, and the desire of stores to increase their sales shares and clear out their existing stock of old devices. In detail, consumer Khaled Amer said that the discounts offered by platforms and stores on previous versions of iPhones allow consumers to choose between different versions of those phones, noting that many consumers are looking to buy these devices at low prices, especially given the price differences between the new and previous versions. For his part, consumer Hassan Baher said that a large number of consumers prefer to buy previous versions of iPhones if they are offered at low prices, explaining that this usually happens in conjunction with the release of new versions in the markets, as stores seek to offer price deals on previous models to attract buyers and encourage them to make a purchase decision. Consumer Nadine Emad considered the discounts to be among the positive aspects that give consumers the opportunity to buy iPhones at good prices, noting that some consumers put price at the forefront of the factors that determine their purchasing decisions when they want to buy these products, and therefore the decrease in prices may encourage them to buy previous versions instead of waiting for the latest versions. Vikas Nilesh, a sales manager at an electronics store, said that retailers offering price reductions on previous iPhones, coinciding with the imminent release of new models, is mainly due to the growing intensity of competition in the markets and the desire of stores to increase and boost their sales shares. He added that competition between stores and platforms drives companies to offer deals and price reductions on previous releases, with the aim of attracting consumers and encouraging them to buy, especially as the new models are about to be released. Mohammed Shahid, a sales manager at an electronics store, agreed that offering discounts on previous iPhone models allows stores to attract more consumers to buy these products, which contributes to increasing their sales and clearing their available stock. He pointed out that some consumers see buying previous versions during the discount period as a better opportunity than waiting until the new versions are released, especially for consumers who do not require owning the latest version of the phone, and give greater importance to the price in exchange for obtaining a device with suitable specifications. For his part, Dilip Vishal, a sales manager at a retail company, said that local markets are currently witnessing remarkable competition between stores and platforms, through offering discounts at varying price percentages on different previous versions of iPhones. He explained that these offers come in conjunction with preparations for the launch of the new iPhones expected in the country’s markets, including the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, which are scheduled to be released in the markets on Friday, September 18.