iPhone 16 series to go on sale in Russia despite ban

Russian retailers have reportedly announced the pre-sales of iPhone 16 series despite Apple ’s export ban. Retailer M.Video said phone deliveries would begin from next week while mobile network operator MTS said the offline sale will begin very soon. It is not known how the new iPhones will reach the country.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, consumers will be able to pre-order devices, however, they will have to shell out hundreds of dollars more than in the US to get their hands on the new devices. Russia's leading electronics retailer M.Video-Eldorado and mobile network operator MTS claimed to be the first in Russia to unveil Apple's new iPhone 16.

How much Russians may have to pay more to get iPhone 16 series
As per Reuters, M.Video said prices would start at 112,999 roubles (approx $1,225) for the 128GB iPhone 16, which is over $400 more expensive than the US price of $799. The 1TB iPhone Pro Max was available for pre-order in Russia for 249,999 roubles (approx $2,710), compared to the US price of $1,599.

MTS prices are reportedly marginally higher than M.Video's and said it required a 25,000-rouble deposit for pre-orders.

Ban on product sales in Russia
Apple is among the group of brands that paused all its product sales in Russia in March 2022 and halted services like ApplePay after the Russia-Ukraine war. Other sanctions on the country include curbing technology exports to Russia.

According to the report, brands that halted exports to Russia now take longer routes to reach consumers – typically through countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia. These countries include Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, India and the UAE.

Reportedly, a government-back “grey imports” scheme in Russia allows the continued sale of products from Western companies that left the country after the invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reports that this practice highlights the difficulty businesses face in controlling their supply chains when exiting a market.