iPhone SE Dubai premium: Priced more than iPhone 6S plus?

The iPhone SE that Apple launched on Monday has already started pre-orders in Dubai.

Though you may not find the new 4-inch device listed for sale on the Apple online store (yet), some independent retailers have already started listing the product.  However, some have priced it at an outrageous Dh2,799 – that's almost Dh1100 more than the official retail price that Apple has announced.

The iPhone SE is not scheduled to arrive into the UAE until early next month and Apple has priced it at Dh1,649.

Speaking to this website, a customer care staff at the UAE-based online store MikenSmith.com said he had priced it more following demands from certain clients to lay hands on the new model well before it officially lands in the UAE.

"In fact, the price is not fixed. It might increase or decrease based on the conditions at the time of shipping the product," he said. When asked what made him think that anyone in their right mind would pay such a massive premium for a 4 inch iPhone, he said, "The device is new. Moreover, there are quite a lot of clients who prefer the metallic look of the iPhone 5S and all our devices come with Facetime," he said.

However, his very own website has listed the iPhone 6S Plus models at Dh2,499, which is about Dh300 cheaper than the pre-order price of the iPhone SE. Interestingly, the model is selling on the Apple online store at around Dh2,999.

That being said, Apple itself has priced its latest device at $399 or Dh1649, which is the lowest when compared to any other newly launched iPhones in the past. It should be noted that the latest device does not compromise on the specs and is power packed with features that matches that of the iPhone 6S. According to Apple at least 30 million 4 inch iPhones were sold in 2015 and at least forty per cent of all iPhone users continue to use the 4-inch version.

With the new price range Apple has specifically targeted a user base that is looking towards affordable smartphones that do not compromise much in terms of features. Apple CEO Tim Cook described the device as the most powerful 4 inch device that exists today and the most powerful one by Apple ever.

However, while the pricing strategy could succeed in markets like the US, Europe and UAE, there will not be many takers in markets like India where the iPhone SE is currently priced at Australian $679 (Dh1901).

In India the device is reported to be priced around Rs39,000 (Dh2147). It should be noted that the iPhone 6 is being sold online in India for around Rs42,000.

Moreover its makes it even more profitable for Indians to travel to the UAE and carry an iPhone SE back and save about Rs9,000 which is the cost of a one way ticket to the UAE.

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