The price drop of the iPhone 16 has created a rare buying opportunity for consumers, while Vietnam’s position as one of the first markets to receive the iPhone 17 has stirred controversy due to its unexpectedly high pricing.

iPhone 16 sees major price cuts

According to recent surveys, the upcoming release of the iPhone 17 in Vietnam has triggered a sharp decline in iPhone 16 prices. Retail chains have reduced prices of the iPhone 16 by an average of 15-20% from its original listed price.

The most significant discounts are found in the base models, such as the iPhone 16 with 128GB or 256GB storage, due to large inventory stockpiles and fierce competition from premium Android brands.

For instance, the iPhone 16 (128GB) is now priced at approximately 18-19 million VND (around 740-780 USD), a much more attractive price point compared to its launch period, especially when paired with additional offers like bank payment discounts or trade-in promotions.

For users who don’t need the latest features of the iPhone 17, this may be the perfect time to buy an iPhone 16. Prices may drop even further once the iPhone 17 officially hits store shelves, but the risk is that stock could run out.

iPhone 17 pricing in Vietnam raises eyebrows

At 1:00 a.m. on September 10 (Vietnam time), Apple officially unveiled its iPhone 17 series. According to Apple, the iPhone 17 starts at 799 USD, the iPhone 17 Pro at 1,099 USD (a 100 USD increase over the iPhone 16 Pro), and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 1,199 USD. Apple also introduced the all-new iPhone 17 Air, priced from 999 USD, also 100 USD more than the previous iPhone 16 Plus.

However, the Vietnamese market has expressed dissatisfaction, as local pricing appears significantly higher than in previous years when converted from US dollars.

As reported by Artimes, the iPhone 17 starts at 25 million VND (around 1,035 USD), while the iPhone Air is priced at 32 million VND (roughly 1,325 USD) for the base version. The iPhone 17 Pro begins at 35 million VND (about 1,450 USD), and the Pro Max starts at 38 million VND (approximately 1,575 USD) – an increase of 3 to 4 million VND (120 to 160 USD) compared to last year.

Apple has also introduced a 2TB variant for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, now the most expensive officially distributed iPhone in history, priced at 64 million VND (around 2,650 USD).

Hanh Nguyen