Apple iPhone 5S Price Update: Slashed by Almost Half in India
Apple has slashed down the price of the iPhone 5s in India for the third time since September, bringing it down to INR24,999 ($76) from previously INR44,500 ($670).
The massive price slash in the iPhone 5s in India is part of Apple's bid to boost its sales in the country as the demand for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus dropped after the Diwali festival. The iPhone 5s continues to be a best seller in India, according to the Times of India.
Analysts say the sales of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus picked up briefly during the Diwali but dived significantly thereafter. While a massive price drop in best-selling models is rare, Apple has decided to push through with the successive discount for the iPhone 5s because the unit accounts for almost half of the iPhone sales in India, the report relays.
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"The $250-400 (Rs 16,000-Rs 27,000) price band is where Apple wants to focus its energies in India since they want to lock in more consumers into their eco-system which would build up a base for upgradation when newer iPhones are launched," the Times quotes Counterpoint Research senior telecom analyst Tarun Pathak.
Still, there are those wondering if the iPhone 5s is still worth it after the massive price cut. Even though it was launched two years ago, Firstpost believes it is still a good deal. The handset gives users a great camera, lag-free performance, high-definition display, and long battery life that cannot be found in other units of similar size, the report explains.
The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is the best rival for the iPhone 5s, but the former cannot match the Apple smartphone's quality in terms of camera, performance, and battery life. In addition, it has a fingerprint sensor, a powerful A7 processor, and iOS 9, the report details.
On the down side, the iPhone 5s is not as fast as the iPhone 6s and has a smaller RAM. Plus, the price discount is only applicable on the 16GB model, so users who install a lot of games may need to clean their drive or back up their files more often.
