To help track down the cheapest and most expensive countries for smartphone purchases, we have compiled dataabout various smartphone release pricesaround the world. This has been combinedwith historic currency prices at the time of launch to compare global prices in USD. While it’s not feasaibleto track prices in every country, we’ve included as much data as possible aboutthe usual suspects, including last years flagship releases to popular mid rangers like the Moto G series.

Flagship handsetsBelieve it or not, it’s actually a little tricky to find smartphone launches that see a completely global release. Neither of last year’s LG V20 or HTC 10 range made it out around the whole world, and we’re all familiar with the strict regional availability of Chinese brands like Xiaomi. Fortunately we can turn to the hugely popular iPhone 7 Plus and Galaxy S7 Edge to give us a look at how pricesfair on a like of like basis.

Galaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 7 Plus prices

Unlocked prices for your 32GB Samsung and Apple flagships are actually the cheapest in the US and Canada, followed not asos cover samsung too far behind by Japan and Middle Eastern markets. Europe, China, and Asian markets add a small premium to these models, probably mostly due to additional taxes. There seems to be higher import premiums still if you’re buying these phonesin India, Mexico, Russia, or Scandinavian countries.

Perhaps surprisingly, the US offers flagships from Samsung and Apple at cheaper prices than the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, Latin American, South African, and New Zealand customers pay considerably more than those in other regions. In the US prices tend to start at just under $800, but this shootsup to $1000 USD and more in these countries, unieuro cover samsung 50/ a more than25 percent up mark compared with the cheapest launches.

For interest’s sake, the average global launch price of the 32GB Samsung Galaxy S7 edge was $870 and $973 for the Apple iPhone 7 Plus with cover samsung note 9 amazon the equivalent memory size. So pat yourself on the back if you grabbed yours come montare cover samsung tab s2 forless.

Typical flagship prices per region

Once we start throwing more smartphonesinto the mix we begin to see a sharp divergence towards cheaperflagships in Asia. While the US and Europe are able to get theirhands on the expensive and rather excellent Google Pixel and Pixel XL, China, India, and other parts of Asia are able to purchase cover samsung galaxy s3 miniinthebox much lower cost flagships from Xiaomi, Oppo, LeEco, and other local manufacturers.

Only recently has Huawei begun offering its flagships in more regions, and this is helping to lower prices slightly in the West,as are the OnePlus 3 and 3T. However, the lack of official availability in some countries, such as Australia or Norway, is cover samsung galaxy nexus i9250 keeping average flagship prices higher in these places. There’s a growing gap between themost affordable flagships in certain continents, not just in Asia but in Europe and Oceaniatoo.

Speaking of growing gaps, what this chart doesn’t cover samsung galaxy advance show is the huge gulf between average flagship prices and lowest cost purchases. For example, the average cost of a flagship in India is now quite close to that in the US or cover samsung young s6310 Canada. However, your iPhone’s, Galaxy, or Xperia handsets cost anywhere from $100 to $300 more than in the US, but the country’s customers also have access to the very cheap Le Max 2 and Xiaomi Mi range, which cost as little as $260 in China. That’s $140 cheaper than the US’ cheapest flagship at launch, the ZTE Axon 7.

It’s also perhaps a little surprising to find thatAsian countries that design many of the most well knownsmartphone brands, such as South Korea’s Samsung or Japan’s Sony, see prices typically around that of customers in Europe. There doesn’t appear to a notable discounts for being the country of origin for a particular phone in Japan, Taiwan, or South Korea, unlike there is in China.

Speaking of Europe, Scandinavia remains the most expensive part of Europefor smartphones, while the UK cover samsung galaxy core plus rigide disney is slightly cheaper than the mainland, for the most part. The US and Canada retain a price advantage over other Western countries, although the latter typically pays an additional $50 $100for the same cover samsung s6 edge guess devices.

Scandinavia is the most expensive place to buy phones in Europe, but South America is cover samsung s7 specchio by far the most expensive region around the globe.

Again we see the Southern Hemisphere paying significantly cover samsung s4 mini moschino over the odds. Latin / South America has yet to benefit fromthe arrival of low cost Chinese manufacturers and pays significantly over cover samsung galaxy core prime g360f the odds for flagships from Samsung, Apple, LG, HTC, and others. This can range anywhere from $150 to $500 more than US prices. And that’s if manufacturers even release their handsets in these countries, as LG and HTC often sell cut down flagship models in countries like Brazil, but still end up charging premium prices.

Australia and New Zealand also pay over the odds, although not to the same extent as South America. Import distance is likely a contributing factor, as is a lack of choice and competition. For example, you can’t buy the top of the line Google Pixel or the low cost OnePlus 3T in these countries, at least not through official channels.

Mid range bargainsFlagships are one thing, but cover samsung s7 edge tinta unita what about the cost of mid range phones cover samsung chitarra cover samsung galaxy s4 active This is a little tricker to track without having to look at cover samsung s7 edge ktm hundreds of handsets, because prices and specs vary a lot more in this category. Instead,I’ve cover samsung galaxy s8 portafoglio collected data on handsets that cost around the $250 mark in the USso see how much they can be bought for around the rest of the world.

We’re looking at handsets like the Moto G4 Plus, LG X Power, Honor 6X, etc, in terms of price and performance. Unfortunately launch price information for these handsets is trickier to track down in many regions.

Interestingly there seems to be a lot less global price variation in this segment of the market, cover samsung a 50 originale with handsets sitting consistently in the $250 to $300 price bracket across North America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Southern Asia. Japan and New Zealand see a roughly $100 markup over US prices, with mid range phones costing around $350, but this isn’tsuch a big price hike compared with our flagship graphic.

Again, South America is considerably more expensive than the rest of the world, with pricestypically flip cover samsung galaxy s4 $120 more expensive than the US in Brazil and I found that prices often doubled in Argentina. Unfortunately this situation isn’t just limited to smartphones. Most electronics see a considerable mark up in these territories, owing to steeper taxes and high import duties, along with expensive and difficult distribution channels. Some handset manufacturers, includingHuawei, Nokia, and ZTE have established distribution and manufacturing facilities in Brazil in order to sidestep some of these import taxes and costs, and we may see other manufacturers follow suit in the future.

Just as with flagship smartphones, we see notably cheaper mid tier handsets in China, India, and parts of Southern Asia. For example, cover samsung grand neo a portafoglio the Honor 6X costs $250 in the US, but this falls to just $190 in China and India.

Wrap UpThese findings certainly won’t surprise those who have been following smartphone announcements over the past couple of years. The falling price of handsets in China and India are well documented, as is Western consumer fondness for the more familiar, and expensive, smartphone brands.

Of course, not all flagship smartphones are equal and your top cover samsung s6 per ragazze of the line Galaxy S7 Edge, Xperia XZ Premium, and LG G6 the like are typicallymore expensive outside of the US. In addition, this data probably tells us quite a bit about consumer preferences too. Lower cost flagship territories seemquite willing to forgo the little extras in exchange for a core experience that offers higher performanceat a less expensive price point. We will have to see if consumers make similar choices as Chinese manufacturers roll out more products in the West…