iPhone 16 Pre-orders Soar in Russia Despite Price Hike

Despite a significant price increase compared to Western markets, pre-orders for the iPhone 16 in Russia have surged, exceeding last year's iPhone 15 pre-order numbers by 15%. This surge in demand comes amid Russia's legalization of "grey" or "parallel" imports, which allows goods to enter the country without official brand authorization.

The Impact of Parallel Imports

The rise in iPhone 16 pre-orders is directly linked to Russia's legalization of parallel imports. This policy, implemented in response to Western sanctions following the conflict with Ukraine, allows goods to be imported without official brand authorization. This has opened up a new avenue for Russian consumers to access popular products, including iPhones, which were previously unavailable due to export bans imposed by companies like Apple.

The surge in iPhone pre-orders indicates a strong demand for Apple products in Russia, even with the price hike. This suggests that Russian consumers are willing to pay a premium for these products, despite the economic challenges faced by the country.

The Source of iPhones in Russia

Lyudmila Semushina, a spokesperson for an electronics retailer, revealed that iPhones sold in Russia are sourced from various countries globally, mainly those that have not imposed sanctions on Moscow. These include Turkey, China, India, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet states. The trade between these countries and Russia has significantly increased since the conflict began, creating a new supply chain for goods like iPhones.

While the source of these iPhones is not officially disclosed by Apple, the surge in pre-orders suggests that the supply chain is functioning effectively and meeting the high demand for the new model.

Price Variations and Lack of Apple Involvement

The iPhone 16 prices in Russia are significantly higher than in the United States. For instance, the 128GB iPhone 16 in Russia costs 112,999 rubles (around $400 more than the US selling price of $799), while the iPhone Pro Max 1TB is available for pre-order in Russia for 249,999 rubles (around $41 million), compared to the US price of $1,599.

Semushina emphasized that her company no longer provides official estimates of iPhone prices in Russia due to the highly variable pricing depending on the source. She also confirmed that there has been no contact with Apple since the conflict began. This reflects Apple's suspension of all product sales in Russia in March 2022 and the discontinuation of services like ApplePay.

Despite the lack of official communication, Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment on the sales and pricing of the new iPhone model in Russia.