The Apple Store in Hongkong announced the pricing for both the 16Gb and 32Gb iPhone3GS today in the online store. And it’s really cheap. Really cheap because it is selling for the price of the existing 8Gb model on sale in Malaysia, the “quasi-unlocked” version from Maxis, which is currently selling for RM 2,540. The prices of the iPhone3GS Hongkong setsare as follows:
- 16Gb HKD$ 5,388 (RM 2,483)
- 32Gb HK$ 6,288 (RM 2,903)
I believe that no one carrier has the exclusive rights to carry the 3GS in Hongkong – this is what it says in the Apple online store:
iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier. Simply insert the SIM from your current phone into iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS and connect to iTunes 8.2 to complete activation.
Looks like Hongkong will be another very attractive source for the new 3GS, if the Maxis plans are not attractive to you. Fly with AirAsia to Macau, take a day trip to Hongkong, buy the 3GS, come back the next day, and I believe you may still end up saving money!
Let’s have a HK 3GS trip!
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
@toonchien, count me in, man!
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Ohh yeah …. Im in if there is … cathay in the paper today got some promo too.
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
@Alvin, really? Wow, this is making me very itchy la!
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if buy from HK can claim VAT right? another cost saving!
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
@artic, aiyoooo…it’s already cheap enough, you want to claim back VAT some more?
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artic_xp Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
newb, no VAT? haiyaaaa
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
@artic, as far as I can tell, Hongkong doesn’t charge GST…
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err VAT under http://www.apple.com/hk/? i doubt it!
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
@toonchien, haha…you’re right – I don’t think HK has a sales tax unlike Singapore where you can reclaim a portion of your purchase price…unless someone corrects me.
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toonchien Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
DAD,
u got ur set from Aus?
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
@toonchien, sniff sniff sniff…I am so poor I can’t even afford to buy a proper dinner! How to afford anything? ;-(
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toonchien Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
but…… it is not anything.
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
@toonchien, haha, yes, it is not anything. It is the iPhone3GS! Yes, I placed an order for an overseas set already, it’s going to be either the Aus or Sing set. Not sure yet. Depends on pricing.
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is great , i also follow to buy from HK..if maxis cant give me a good deal.
as i know HK dont have any tax , singapore is 7% , aus 10%..
before going , have to ensure the stock is ready.
flight to macau is cheaper , i did bought a ticket airasia RM55 one way… , but macau to hk need about RM50 or more i not sure.
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
@andy, yes, have to ensure there is sufficient stock before you go, otherwise it’s a trip for nothing!
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DAD
how to buy from HK..
-apple store – pay money on the store and go
or
–buy from apple online store ? which need HK address….
any one can tell. thank
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
@andy, probably easiest and fastest to get it from the Apple retail store, if they have the stock. I don’t think they will deliver to Hongkong hotel addresses if you buy online.
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Whoa… thats cheap…. same price as the N97 here! Hhmmmmm… now… which fren can help me out…
But flying there to buy worth or not? There is the air ticket, the hotel room, the makan,the minum, the taxi to and fro HK airport, the drive/taxi to and fro KLIA…..
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artic_xp Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
jack lee, day trip la!
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
@Jack, actually the trip is twofold la – get the iPhone3GS and take a holiday in Hongkong to enjoy the gadgets on sale there! Where can you find a better deal?
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australia also damn the cheap leh… about RM2446 for the 16G version, but more worthwhile if u ask someone whose coming back to get for u instead of airasia-ing there and get it yourself…
you can claim for gst refund also, so that’s another RM200 plus discount
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
@X, a bit expensive to travel to Aus just to buy one. Also, warranty is an issue, so it makes me think twice…
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You can buy the iPhone at the HK intl airport itself at duty free price. The problem is I don’t know if it comes with Apple international warranty or not.
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andy Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
try to call iphone store hk help line , is in the hk apple store wedsite…
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Sailesh Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Hey,
are u sure u get the iphone 3gs 32gb officially unlocked device from the hong kong international airport??? i would be grateful if u could confirm this info…bcos ill be in hong kong airport for a few hours before i have transit…thank you in advance..
regards,
Sailesh
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
@Sailesh, since there no single celco in Hongkong that has exclusivity over the iPhone, it is unlocked. If you check Apple’s Hongkong store, it says that the iPhone purchased from the store can be activated with any carrier
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Rolf Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
@AKilla,
Could you telle me what shop in HK airport sells the iphone duty free? I’ll be there in transit to NZ and i’d like to pick one up…
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
November 13th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
@Rolf, I don’t think there are that many shops, and you can check the airport shopping directory here -> http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/index.html
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If purchase at Hong Kong at 5388$HK (around 695$US), do we need to pay any more tax? I have friend live in Hong Kong, want suggest her to buy iPhone 3GS for me then send to Cambodia. The price of iPhone 3GS in Cambodia are 16GB = 980$US, 32GB = 1120$US.
Which on are save the cost?
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
@Rithy, I don’t know Customs regulations in Cambodia. You may need to pay taxes upon import. Your phone may get lost in the mail. I honestly don’t know!
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as i know hong kong is tax free.
when the item arriving in your coutnry custom , is upto your country to impose any taxable rate…is very subjective.
take a holiday trip to macau , HK ( via airasia.com , via bangkok )….i believe is safe u bring back your own and for own use , will not be tax …or u can buy more to sell in your place…
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Da Alpha Dog Reply:
July 13th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
@andy, I was told not to import iPhones through the post. Customs is guaranteed to know what it is, and will certainly impose a tax on it. My friend had to run to and fro KLIA to get his two first generation iPhones from the US certified.
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