GST Impact On Smartphones: Here’s How Much You Will Save or Lose

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been brought into effect now, triggering a nationwide taxation overhaul. This has crept into the smartphone industry as well, with some companies having already slashed rates of their devices, and the others likely to follow suit in the coming few days. (हिंदी में पढ़ें)

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GST Impact on Smartphones:

Besides 12 percent GST on smartphones, there is an extra 10 percent duty on imported smartphones after GST, but for now, prices of existing phones won’t increase. In fact, the combined tax (12 percent GST + 10 percent import duty) is still less tax than what brands like Apple paid prior to GST implementation.

• Prices of existing phones won’t increase.
• There will be price cuts on some existing phones (mostly mid-range and high-end phones).
• Upcoming phones, particularly the imported ones, would cost 4 to 5 percent more.

Here’s how much difference the GST has brought about in the devices offered by the various smartphone companies, country-wide:

Apple

The Cupertino-based company has slashed the rates of its precious iPhones by a margin of 4 to 7.5 percent. That means that the iPhone 7 Plus (256GB), facing a price cut of more than 7 percent will be available now for a price of Rs. 85,400, while the iPhone 6s (32GB) sees a 6.2% reduction, and comes down to a price of Rs. 46,900.

The India-made iPhone SE sees 4 and 6 percent discounts now for its 128GB and 32GB variants respectively. Apart from the handsets, Apple’s other offerings like the iPad, Macs and Apple Watches are also available at discounted prices.

Asus

Much like Apple, Asus has also decided to cut back on the prices of its smartphones. The company’s ZenFone 3 series of smartphones sees reduction in prices, which will be available at the reduced prices across all company stores and E-commerce websites.

Also Read: Reasons Why You Should or Shouldn’t buy OnePlus 5

Asus ZenFone 3 Series New Prices

Panasonic

Another addition to the list of companies slashing the prices of their handsets is Japanese multinational Panasonic, which has decided to reduce the prices of as many as seven different smartphones in its arsenal (with most of them belonging to its Eluga series).

Panasonic Smartphones Price Drop After GST