Today’s release of the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in parts of the world not named the Philippines doesn’t mean you can’t be one of the first in the country to get the new iPhone. You can — but for a price.

(Update, October 30, 2016: The devices will be available starting November 11, 2016. Click this for the official resellers’ prices, this for Globe Telecom’s postpaid plans, and this for Smart Communications’ registration page.)

Take note that the official price of the iPhone 7 starts at $649 or roughly P30,500 and the bigger version at $769 or around P36,000, but because you will be getting from the gray market, prices are obviously higher. We scoured the internet for local sellers, and here’s what we found thus far (NOTE: POST UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2016):

1) On Kimstore
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P38,500
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P44,500
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P50,000
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P52,000
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P58,000
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P63,000

2) On Widget City
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P38,500
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P44,500
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P49,500
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P53,000
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P59,000
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P63,000

3) On Lazada
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P39,999
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P45,999
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P52,999
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P55,999
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P61,999
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P67,999

3) On TipidCP
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P44,700
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P50,700
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P56,600
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P50,700
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P57,650
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P63,600
Available starting September 23 or 24

4) On TipidCP
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB, Black) — P62,999
Available starting September 20

5) On OLX
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P45,000
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P57,000
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P66,000
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P63,000
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P75,000
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P83,000
Available now

6) On OLX
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P47,000
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P56,000
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P62,000
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P63,000
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P72,000
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P85,000
Available now

7) On OLX
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P42,000
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P49,000
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P55,000
iPhone 7 Plus (32GB) — P53,000
iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) — P67,000 (Black), P62,000 (Other colors)
iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) — P82,000 (Black), P76,000 (Other colors)
Available now

8) On TipidCP
iPhone 7 (32GB) — P48,000
iPhone 7 (128GB) — P56,000
iPhone 7 (256GB) — P61,000
Available now

We have an idea of how much online store Widget City will sell the Apple iPhone 7 Plus for, as we have inquired from the owner himself. However, we don’t want to preempt him, so we’ll wait for the official announcement before updating this post. So if you’re keen on getting the “fastest smartphone you can buy” (according to AnTuTu) within the next few days, keep your eyes peeled for updates on this page.

MY TAKE: If you are going to a country where the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are already available and are thinking of walking in to an Apple Store to get a unit, we’ve got bad news for you: You can’t. Not yet, anyway. Reuters reported that initial quantities of the bigger variant — and we’re talking all colors and configurations here — is already sold out. The smaller one in jet black is as well. This is why buying from the gray market may seem palatable now, especially since the importers’ prices are lower compared to last year’s or even those in 2014, where the iPhone 6 cost as much as P117,585. If we were you, though, we’d buy it from the more well-known sellers, such as Kimstore and Lazada.

Buying from the Philippine gray market may seem palatable now, especially since the importers’ prices are lower compared to last year’s or even those in 2014, when the iPhone 6 cost as much as P117,585. If we were you, though, we’d buy it from the more well-known sellers, such as Kimstore.

MY PARTNER RAMON LOPEZ’S TAKE: Gray-market prices are surprisingly reasonable this year. I mean, compared to the median price of rose-gold iPhones when they first came out. I remember back then some sellers were charging absurd amounts for certain iPhone 6s Plus units.

And it’s not that the vendors are, for some reason, more benevolent this year. Hell no. The lower cost of ownership can be attributed to choice, which breeds competition. So say it with me now, Apple fans: Hooray for capitalism!

Specs of the Apple iPhone 7 (Price starts at $649 or roughly P30,500)

• Water-resistant
• 4.7-inch, 720p IPS display
• Apple A10 Fusion CPU
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB/128GB/256GB storage
• 12-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, phase-detection autofocus, quad-LED flash
• 7-megapixel front camera
• Fingerprint sensor
• iOS 10

Specs of the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Price starts at $769 or roughly P36,000)

• Water-resistant
• 5.5-inch, 1080p IPS display
• Apple A10 Fusion CPU
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB/128GB/256GB storage
• Dual 12-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture/f2.8 aperture, 2x optical zoom, phase-detection autofocus, quad-LED flash
• 7-megapixel front camera
• Fingerprint sensor
• iOS 10

Main image via Business Insider

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