Desert titanium iPhone 16 Pro Max sells for up to over $200 above listed price

Since its release on Friday, tens of thousands of iPhone 16 units have been delivered to customers in Vietnam, with the demand for the desert titanium model remaining high.

At an Apple authorized store, the iPhone 16 Pro Max in desert titanium is priced at VND38 million, VND44 million, and VND50 million for the 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB models respectively—each VND3 million above Apple Vietnam’s listing prices.

Currently, consumers do not receive any perks other than the assurance of immediate availability, a stark contrast to the numerous benefits offered by many stores prior to the release.

This pricing strategy is consistent across various retailers, including some Apple authorized dealers, for authentic VN/A devices. In smaller chains, prices can rise by nearly VND4 million for the most popular 256 GB model, selling it for VND39 million.

On e-commerce sites, some listings price the device at VND40 million, approximately VND5 million more than the official price.

A retail chain lists the desert titanium iPhone 16 Pro Max at nearly VND5 million above the price of the natural titanium variant. Photo by VnExpress/Luu Quy

Many believe that the high demand for the desert titanium color, coupled with limited supply, justifies the price hike, allowing eager buyers to secure the device immediately for a premium.

However, this strategy has complicated matters for some customers, particularly those who face delivery delays on pre-ordered devices.

Minh Anh from Hanoi, who planned to gift phones to associates and relatives, ordered five units on the evening of Sep. 20. To avoid immediate activation of the devices, enabling later gifting, he opted for a store he often visited over an Apple authorized dealer with stricter policies. However, just before the scheduled delivery, he was informed that only two phones could be delivered due to "stock shortages," with the rest promised by October.

"At first, I was understanding because the desert titanium model was extremely popular," he explained. "But when I visited the store, a staff member confirmed they had stock available if I paid more than VND38 million [which is higher than the initial listed price]."

Several customers also reported that stores, on the eve of delivery, offered them additional warranty and accessories packages costing VND2-3 million to secure early receipt of their phones.

A retail chain representative explained that the frequent shortage of devices in new colors or designs leads to price markups or bundled sales offering additional benefits during the initial release period, aiming to maximize profits and reduce the likelihood of resale.

Another chain representative mentioned that they had to raise prices to better manage demand, as over 50% of orders were for the desert titanium color, yet stock availability was below 30%. Those unwilling to pay extra must wait for the next shipment in October.

"Order and delivery demand for October remains very high," noted a representative from CellphoneS electronic device seller.

At CellphoneS, nearly 7,000 iPhone 16 units were sold on launch day, with 63% being the Pro Max model.

"Many who ordered late and couldn’t immediately get the desert titanium color opted for other colors like natural titanium or black to receive their devices sooner," they added.

The desert titanium iPhone 16 Pro Max. Photo by VnExpress/Tuan Hung

As in previous years, the new color of the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the most popular during the initial sales phase this year. A VnExpress survey of over 3,000 people on Sep. 20 found that 60% of respondents preferred this color. It also sold out within three minutes on the Apple Store Online in Vietnam.

Many retailers note that the desert titanium color draws considerable interest as it distinguishes itself from previous iPhone models. Last year, the natural titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max experienced a similar trend, though it is now the least favored color among retailers’ customers despite its appeal to both male and female customers.

Retail systems have been delivering the iPhone 16 since Friday, with the number of orders notably higher than last year.