The most expensive countries to buy an iPhone

Henry Man

Sep 26, 2024

The smartphone has become an everyday essential to stay connected with people and the world.

However, it has also become more expensive to buy over the years – making flagship mobile phone models seemingly more akin to jewellery in value.

As experts in helping Australians compare home and contents insurance, we looked at how much the cost of the Apple iPhone has changed since its inception across eight countries, and which nation has the most expensive iPhone price tag.

These are the results.

iPhone pricing history and trends

iPhone Price Index 2024 line graph

Note: Some entries are missing due to the model being unavailable to purchase outright (only with a mobile network plan) or there was no publicly available data.

The price of the Apple iPhone has increased substantially since its 2007 debut.

Most countries we studied followed a similar trend – with some price decreases around 2011 to 2014 – except for Türkiye. Here are some highlights:

  • Türkiye has experienced the highest price increase on iPhones – jumping 3,235% (AU$3,623) in a 10-year period. This is due to multiple taxes being imposed on mobile phones and imported products, in addition to a 72.3% inflation spike in 2022.1,2
  • While Germany was the most expensive country to buy an iPhone 4 in 2010, Türkiye has now become the most expensive country instead, costing from AU$2,925 for the iPhone 16 or from $3,735 for the iPhone 16 Pro – which is more than double the price tag in the United States and Canada.
  • Australia and New Zealand had the second- and third-biggest price increases at 107% ($930) and 100% ($900) respectively compared to the iPhone 6 from a decade ago.
  • The USA had the lowest iPhone price increase in a decade at 54% ($522), out of the eight countries studied.
  • The original Apple iPhone in 2007 was only sold in the USA with a two-year AT&T network contract – instead of being available outright.3

Three iPhones close-up on a white background

Full pricing table (AUD)

ModelAustraliaNew ZealandUSAUKCanadaTürkiyeGermanySouth Korea
iPhoneN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
iPhone 3G$729$881N/A$579N/AN/AN/AN/A
iPhone 3GS$879$1,034N/A$660N/AN/AN/AN/A
iPhone 4$859$1,011$893$963$718N/A$1,025N/A
iPhone 4s$799$944$967$963$707N/A$1,025N/A
iPhone 5$799$944$967$1,021$762N/A$1,107$979
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c
$869
$739
$944
$809
$967
$818
$1,060
$905
$784
$653
$97
$83
$1,139
$976
$968
$825
iPhone 6$869$899$967$1,040$816$112$1,139$935
iPhone 6s$1,079$1,079$967$1,040$980$139$1,214$1,012
iPhone 7$1079$1,079$967$1,156$980$171$1,237$1,012
iPhone X
iPhone 8
$1,579
$1,079
$1,619
$1,124
$1,489
$1,042
$1,928
$1,349
$1,438
$1,013
$274
$189
$1,873
$1,302
$1,562
$1,089
iPhone Xs
iPhone Xr
$1,629
$1,229
$1,709
$1,259
$1,489
$1,116
$1,928
$1,446
$1,503
$1,122
$445
$333
$1,873
$1,384
$1,507
$1,089
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11
$1,749
$1,199
$1,754
$1,214
$1,489
$1,042
$2,025
$1,407
$1,503
$1,067
$495
$328
$1,873
$1,302
$1,529
$1,089
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12
$1,699
$1,349
$1,709
$1,349
$1,489
$1,191
$1,928
$1,542
$1,525
$1,231
$675
$495
$1,873
$1,465
$1,485
$1,199
iPhone 13 Pro 
iPhone 13
$1,699
$1,349
$1,619
$1,286
$1,489
$1,191
$1,832
$1,503
$1,525
$1,198
$967
$733
$1,873
$1,465
$1,485
$1,199
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14
$1,749
$1,399
$1,799
$1,439
$1,489
$1,191
$2,121
$1,639
$1,525
$1,198
$1,890
$1,485
$2,117
$1,628
$1,705
$1,375
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15
$1,849
$1,499
$1,889
$1,484
$1,489
$1,191
$1,928
$1,542
$1,579
$1,231
$3,397
$2,632
$1,954
$1,547
$1,705
$1,375
iPhone 16 Pro 
iPhone 16
$1799
$1,399
$1,799
$1,439
$1,489
$1,191
$1,928
$1,542
$1,579
$1,231
$3,735
$2,925
$1,954
$1,547
$1,705
$1,375

Note: Some entries are missing due to the model being unavailable to purchase outright (only with a mobile network plan) or there was no publicly available data.

How the iPhone has changed over the years

YearModelKey Features
2007iPhone
  • 2G cellular connectivity
  • 3.5-inch touchscreen
2008iPhone 3G
  • 3G cellular
  • 2MP rear camera
  • GPS
  • App Store
2009iPhone 3GS
  • Upgraded 3MP rear camera
  • Faster processor
  • Voice Control
2010iPhone 4
  • New 0.3MP front camera
  • 5MP rear camera
  • LED flashlight
  • Flat aluminium frame and glass back
2011iPhone 4s
  • 8MP rear camera
  • 1080p video recording
  • Siri voice assistant
2012iPhone 5
  • 4G cellular
  • Larger 4.0-inch display
  • 1.2MP front camera
  • Lightning connector
2013iPhone 5c & 5s
  • Touch ID fingerprint scanner (5s only)
  • True Tone flash
2014iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
  • Larger 4.7- or 5.5-inch display
  • 64-bit processor
  • Thinner design with aluminium back
2015iPhone 6s & 6s Plus
  • 12MP rear and 5MP front camera
  • 4K video recording
  • 3D Touch
2016iPhone 7 & 7 Plus
  • IP67 water and dust resistance
  • 2x telephoto rear camera with Portrait mode (7 Plus only)
  • Touch-based home button
2017iPhone 8, 8 Plus & X
  • Narrow bezels with notch and gesture-based software (X only)
  • Face ID (X only)
  • 5.7-inch OLED display (X only)
  • Stainless-steel frame (X only)
  • Glass back
  • Qi wireless charging capability
2018iPhone Xr & Xs
  • 7MP front camera
  • Upgraded IP68 water and dust resistance (Xs only)
  • 6.5-inch display (Xs Max only)
2019iPhone 11 & 11 Pro
  • 12MP front camera
  • 0.5x ultra-wide rear camera
  • Matte glass back (11 Pro only)
2020iPhone 12 & 12 Pro
  • 5G cellular
  • Flat frame design returns
  • MagSafe capability
2021iPhone 13 & 13 Pro
  • Smaller notch
  • Macro photography
  • Cinematic mode recording
2022iPhone 14 & 14 Pro
  • 48MP rear camera (14 Pro and 14 Pro Max only)
  • Dynamic Island (14 Pro and 14 Pro Max only)
  • Always-on display (14 Pro and 14 Pro Max only)
2023iPhone 15 & 15 Pro
  • 5x telephoto rear camera (15 Pro Max only)
  • Titanium frame (15 Pro and 15 Pro Max only)
  • Action button (15 Pro and 15 Pro Max only)
2024iPhone 16 & 16 Pro
  • Larger 6.3- and 6.9-inch displays (16 Pro and 16 Pro Max respectively)
  • Action button (16 and 16 Plus only)
  • Camera Control button
  • 5x telephoto rear camera (16 Pro only)
  • 48MP ultrawide camera (16 Pro and 16 Pro Max only)

While the first iPhone introduced innovative features in 2007 – including a full touchscreen with multi-finger gestures – technology has substantially improved over the years with the addition of front and multiple rear cameras, faster processors, and brighter displays.

The iPhone has also grown in size, from 3.5-inches to 6.9-inches on the 16 Pro Max today with minimal screen bezels.

Apple unsuccessfully attempted to split its flagship models in 2013 with the iPhone 5c and 5s. However, this strategy returned permanently from 2017 with the iPhone 8 and X – giving consumers the option to choose a lower-spec flagship model to offset rising prices, other than the budget friendly iPhone SE.

White iPhone SE top

How to protect your phone and valuables

Smartphones have become increasingly expensive, as well as the cost to repair or replace a device following an accident.

Compare the Market’s Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, said a contents policy that includes cover for portable items could provide a level of cover for valuables including mobile phones.

“It’s no secret that smartphones have dramatically increased in price over the years, along with the introduction of larger displays, multiple cameras and faster processors,” Mr Taylor said.

“However, they’re subject to the daily grind and could be accidently lost or damaged. Replacing one can be a costly headache.

“A contents policy that includes cover for portable provides a level of peace of mind to protect one of the most essential devices in life.

“Keep in mind that not all insurers cover mobile phones when taken outside the home – so it’s important to read the policy wording to understand the inclusions and exclusions with each policy.

“With the price of flagship phones generally exceeding $1,000, remember to specify your mobile phone when you purchase or renew your policy and make sure it’s listed on your Certificate of Insurance. Compare what’s on offer to find a policy that suits your needs, too.”

Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to check for the inclusions, limits and restrictions before purchasing.

Methodology & Sources

Monetary currencies based on 18 July, 2024 exchange rates to the Australian dollar (rounded to the nearest whole number).

Using Wayback Machine on each country’s Apple website, iPhone prices listed in this study are:

  • The starting price for the base storage model
  • Includes the standard and Pro model (where applicable)
  • Excludes Mini, Plus, or Max models
  • Outright purchase prices (not a contract with a network provider to ensure a fair comparison)

Additional sources: