Russian retailers have begun pre-sales of Apple’s latest iPhone, bypassing the company’s export ban to Russia. Reuters reported this development on September 19.
Russia’s top electronics retailer, M.Video-Eldorado, and mobile network operator MTS both announced on Thursday that they were the first in the country to introduce Apple’s new iPhone 16.
M.Video and MTS to Begin iPhone 16 Sales Soon
Apple suspended all product sales in Russia in March 2022 and discontinued services such as Apple Pay in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This action was part of broader Western sanctions designed to restrict technology exports to Russia.
Apple did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment made outside of U.S. business hours. The company has yet to issue a statement regarding the situation.
Russians to Pay Hundreds More for iPhone 16 Than U.S. Consumers
Foreign brands that stopped exporting to Russia are now reaching consumers through countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
Reuters was unable to confirm the specific route by which the new iPhones would enter Russia. The details of how the devices are being imported into the country remain unclear.
The parallel or grey imports scheme, supported by the Russian government for brands that left Russia since the invasion, ensures that products from companies that exited remain available. It also highlights the difficulties firms face in managing supply chains when withdrawing from a market.
M.Video announced that the 128GB iPhone 16 will start at 112,999 roubles ($1,225) in Russia, which is over $400 more than the U.S. price of $799. The 1TB iPhone Pro Max is available for pre-order at 249,999 roubles ($2,710) in Russia, compared to $1,599 in the U.S.
MTS’s prices were slightly higher than those of M.Video and required a 25,000-rouble deposit for pre-orders.
Western goods and technology continue to be popular in Russia, posing a potential vulnerability that Moscow aims to address by increasing domestic production.
The Kremlin has instructed officials to stop using iPhones, alleging that Western intelligence agencies have compromised them with surveillance software. Apple has denied these allegations.