Apple's new iPhone 6 series handsets are reportedly selling for a whopping $3,600 (₹2,19,000) per piece in grey markets in China.
Popular business media house Bloomberg from China has reported that Apple iPhone 6 models are being sold for exorbitant prices in China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Liu Min, a local bootlegger - standing right in front of an Apple store in Beijing, promised to offer the Bloomberg reporter a 16GB iPhone 6 for 8,000 Yuan (around $1,303/₹79,000) with a 2-day delivery guarantee - almost double the official price listed on Apple's Hong Kong website (HERE), while the bigger iPhone 6 Plus (128GB) model was offered for a whopping $2,441 (₹1,48,000).
Apple was supposed to release iPhone 6 series devices in China on 19 September, along with 10 other select markets (including USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Puerto Rico) but due to the delay in Chinese regulatory approval, the smartphone release was deferred indefinitely.
It is believed that the devices were illegally smuggled from Hong Kong and Singapore. With no China release date details on sight, the grey market is expected to flourish for at least a month or two.
This case is not limited to mainland China; grey market are thriving well in Hong Kong and Singapore as well. Though Apple iPhone 6 devices are officially available in retail stores in Hong Kong, illegal peddlers (even working professionals) are still doing great business with gullible Apple fans charging them between HKD 10,000 (₹1,290/₹78,500) and HKD 28,000(around $3,600/₹2,19,000).
Illegal Apple iPhone 6 models have made their way to India as well. Apple's new phones are available for more ₹1,00,000 (around $1,650) per piece in grey markets in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
Some retailers are also using e-commerce sites e-Bay India to sell iPhone 6 devices between ₹75,000 (around $1,230) and ₹1,15,000 (around $1,900).
As far as iPhone 6 India release date is concerned, it is expected to hit stores in November [read full report, HERE].
Key specifications of Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus:
| Model | Apple iPhone 6 | Apple iPhone 6 Plus |
| Display | 4.7-inch LED-backlit IPS screen with Retina HD (aka full HD) with 1334 x 750p resolutionPixel density: 326 ppi (pixels per inch)Add-ons:- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front- Dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles | 5.5- inch LED-backlit IPS screen with Retina HD (aka full HD) with 1920x1080p resolutionPixel density: 401 ppi (pixels per inch)Add-ons:- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front- Dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles |
| OS | iOS v8.0 (wider availability of the new OS version to other Apple devices from 17 September) | iOS v8.0 (wider availability of the new OS version to other Apple devices from 17 September) |
| Processor | 20-nanometer class based second generation 64-bit A8 chipset which is 25-percent faster (50-percent faster graphics too) than the A7 in iPhone 5S.It is aptly supported by second generation, M8 motion co-processor | 20-nanometer class based second generation 64-bit A8 chipset which is 25-percent faster (50-percent faster graphics too) than the A7 in iPhone 5S.It is aptly supported by second generation, M8 motion co-processor |
| Storage capacity | 16GB/64GB/128GB | 16GB/64GB/128GB |
| Camera | Main: New 8-megapixel iSight camera with 1.5µ pixels, f/2.2 aperture, True-Tone flash, hybrid IR filter, five-element lens, sapphire crystal lens cover,Front: 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera with f/2.2 aperture, auto-HDR,720p HD video recording | Main: New 8-megapixel iSight camera with 1.5µ pixels, f/2.2 aperture, True-Tone flash, hybrid IR filter, five-element lens, sapphire crystal lens cover, Optical Image stabilization,Front: 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera with f/2.2 aperture, auto-HDR,720p HD video recording |
| Battery | Talk time: up to 14 hours (3G)Standby time: close to 10 days (250 hours) | Talk time: up to 24 hours (3G)Standby time: close to 16 days (384 hours) |
| Network | 3G & 4G-LTE (with new VoLTE technology for high quality voice-calling) | 3G & 4G-LTE (with new VoLTE technology for high quality voice-calling) |
| Add-ons | Finger-print sensor (much better Tough-ID security feature), Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Wi-Fi calling (in select markets), Bluetooth v4.0, NFC. GPS/GLONASS | Finger-print sensor (much better Tough-ID security feature), Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Wi-Fi calling (in select markets), Bluetooth v4.0, NFC. GPS/GLONASS |
| Dimensions | 138.1 x 67.0 x 6.9 mm | 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm |
| Weight | 129 g | 172 g |
| Colours | gold, silver or space gray | gold, silver or space gray |
| Price (with two-year contract in USA) | 16GB: $199 (around €154/12,100)64GB: $ 299 (around €231/18,200)128G: $399(around €310/24,300) | 16GB:$299(around €231/18,200)32GB:$399(around €310/24,300)128GB:$499(around €385/30,350) |
