Apple hikes MacBook prices in India
There is no escape for Indians who are looking to purchase a new (or relatively new) MacBook from Apple, but don't wish to break their bank for it.
Apple has quietly revised the retail price of the 12-inch MacBook in India. The base MacBook (2016) model is now about Rs 6,000 ($90) costlier in India, starting at Rs 112,900 ($1,690). The variant with faster processor and more storage (1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m5 processor, 512GB SSD storage) is even more costlier, now carrying the sticker price of Rs 139,000 ($2,085). Prior to the price revision, the same variant was priced at Rs 129,000 ($1,935).
Interestingly, the pricing of rest of the existing Mac lineup remains unchanged in India, which is strange. The price revision could have been attributed to currency fluctuation had Apple revised it across the portfolio.
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The price revision comes at a time when several people are already upset with how much Apple is asking for the new MacBook Pro models in India. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar starts at Rs 155,900 ($2,330) and Rs 205,900 ($3,080) for the 15-inch model. The basic 13-inch MacBook Pro model without the Touch Bar starts at Rs 129,000 ($1,930).
Apple products (as well as those by other international brands) are typically costlier in India due to the heavy import duty imposed on their products by the Indian government. Also unlike other markets, Apple does not sell directly to consumers in India and relies on a network of distributors and third-party retailers, who charge their own margins. For the same reason, India has always been among the most expensive places to purchase an iPhone.
