Japan’s Gadget-Lovers Turn to Old iPhones as Yen Tumbles - Asia Financial

Japanese shoppers person turned to much affordable second-hand iPhones arsenic a tumbling yen puts the terms of caller models retired of scope for many.

The second-hand commercialized for Apple Inc products successful Japan has grown with the yen falling to a 32-year debased against the US dollar.

As a results, manufacture watchers accidental Japan’s shoppers person go much unfastened to buying second-hand, acknowledgment successful portion to the emergence of online auction sites.

iPhone Price Spike

In July, Apple hiked the terms of the entry-level iPhone 13 by astir a fifth. The basal iPhone 14 aboriginal debuted astatine 20% much than the iPhone 13 did. While the dollar has surged against planetary currencies this year, the yen has been peculiarly hit, dropping 22%.

Kaoru Nagase wanted a caller telephone but couldn’t warrant the terms of a iPhone 14, which starts astatine 119,800 yen ($814). Instead, helium bought a utilized iPhone SE 2 successful Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics territory for little than a 3rd of that.

“At much than 100,000 yen the iPhone 14 is excessively costly and I conscionable can’t spend it. It would beryllium good if the artillery lasted for 10 years,” helium said.

100,000 Yen Barrier

Taishin Chonan bought a utilized iPhone 13 aft the surface cracked connected 1 of the 2 devices helium carries for idiosyncratic use. The replacement has a higher solution and a amended artillery and camera than the iPhone 7 helium had been using.

“Up until present I’d lone ever bought caller phones, this is my archetypal clip buying used,” the 23-year-old said. “The caller models are expensive.”

The latest iPhones are present priced supra the 100,000 yen level that is simply a “major intelligence barrier” for galore shoppers, said Daisuke Inoue, main enforcement of Belong Inc, a portion of trading location Itochu Corp.

Changing Attitudes

Many Japanese person traditionally been wary of second-hand items, including electronics, but that is changing.

Marketplace tract Mercari has seen beardown maturation successful income of utilized smartphones, portion income of location appliances and electronics person besides grown, a institution spokesperson said.

With Japan unfastened again to overseas tourists, the second-hand iPhone marketplace is getting different boost.

“The yen conscionable keeps weakening,” said Iosys enforcement Takashi Okuno. “That inclination of visiting Japan and buying an iPhone is coming back.”

Apple declined petition for comment.

• Reuters, with further editing from Alfie Habershon

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