Study shows people in US work 5 days to buy iPhone 16; how long do Indians need?

A recent study reveals how long people in different countries need to work in order to afford the iPhone 16, with citizens in Switzerland requiring the least number of days.

In Short

• iPhone 16 series launched globally
• Study shows workdays needed to afford it vary
• Prices in India start at Rs 79,900

The iPhone 16 series has finally hit the shelves, and a recent study reveals how long people in different countries need to work in order to afford the iPhone 16.

While everyone wants a piece of it, not everyone can afford it as easily. In some parts of the world, it’s just a matter of a few days' work, but in others, like India, it takes a little more than a month.

As per the study while some people can save up for it in less than a week, others need to put in over three months of work to buy one.

According to the iPhone Index, which compares the price of an iPhone 16 Pro (128 GB) with the average daily wage in various countries, people in Switzerland need to work just four days to afford the new phone.

In the US, the average person would need to work for 5.1 days to save up for it. Australia and Singapore are not far behind, with 5.7 days of work needed to purchase the device.

In India, however, the situation is quite different. An average person here would need to work for 47.6 days to buy the iPhone 16, making it one of the costliest purchases relative to wages.

In India, the iPhone 16 starts at Rs 79,900 for the base model. For those eyeing the larger iPhone 16 Plus, it’s priced at Rs 89,900. \

Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro comes at a steeper Rs 1,19,900, and the top-tier iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at Rs 1,44,900.

These prices make the iPhone 16 series a premium item in the Indian market, especially compared to other countries where the number of workdays required to purchase the phone is significantly lower.

The iPhone Index has been tracking the price-to-wage ratio for the Apple smartphone since 2018. It offers an annual insight into how accessible the iPhone is to people in different countries.

For instance, residents of Switzerland, which has some of the highest wages in the world, can afford the iPhone 16 Pro with just four days of work. In contrast, those in countries with lower average incomes, such as India, face a much greater challenge.

The new iPhone 16 series is available in India at Apple’s flagship stores, Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in New Delhi, as well as through authorised sellers across the country. Shoppers can also purchase the devices online through Apple’s official website.