Thanh Phong, an IT technician in HCMC, wanted to buy one but had to visit numerous stores to find the 128GB silver version he liked.
"Apple Store Online stopped selling the product after the release of the iPhone 15. Many retail stores have also announced they no longer sell [the iPhone 14 Pro Max]," he said.
The 14 Pro Max hit shelves in Vietnam in October 2022 for VND33.9 million (US$1,367). Its price dropped to VND26 million 10 months later. After it was discontinued in September 2023, the price rose slightly to VND27 million.
But Phong had to pay VND3 million more than that for his 128GB silver phone.
Phone retail chain Minh Tuan Mobile said it raised the price of the phone because it now costs more due to low supply.
"Since the beginning of the year we have managed to import very few iPhone 14 Pro Max phones and they are almost sold out," a chain spokesperson said.
Phung Phuong, a spokesperson for mobile devices retail chain Di Dong Viet, said they no longer sell the model since it is hard to find supply.
Leading electronics retailer FPT Shop said it only has enough stock for until May, after which it will stop selling the model.
Its CCO, Nguyen The Kha, said the iPhone 14 Pro Max remains very popular despite the price increases.
Its design is not too different from the new iPhone 15 and its specifications are good enough for the average user, he explained.
Now for the VND30 million that an iPhone 14 Pro Max costs, one can buy a 128GB iPhone 15 Pro or spend an extra VND2-3 million to get the 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max with better specifications.