It was on an impulse. Buying a plane ticket to Singapore to get an Apple iPhone X was not part of my plan. But as fate would have it, I didn’t get the shipping period I had wanted. The iphone release event for the iphone X, had approached and I couldn’t wait any longer to get the new phone.
The Apple iPhone X: One of the most anticipated handsets
I report on technology-related stuff and review gadgets for this side project, so not getting one of this year’s most anticipated devices on its first day of availability was out of the question. That was what I had told myself, anyway. Deep down, I knew it was because I had wanted the 10th-anniversary iPhone for myself — and my emotional quotient was too low to wait for its official release in the Philippines.
READ ALSO: Apple iPhone X gray-market prices in the Philippines
The iPhone X is the first truly redesigned Apple handset since 2014. You see, after three consecutive years of getting the same look, I already got bored with it. I still used the iPhone as my main daily driver because of iOS; for me, Android hasn’t matched the sleekness and simplicity of Apple’s mobile operating system.
I had wished for an iPhone that had the Samsung Galaxy S8’s svelte frame, impressive design, and edge-to-edge screen.
But I had wished the Cupertino giant would give me the Samsung Galaxy S8’s svelte frame and impressive design. And its edge-to-edge screen. After using devices with nearly borderless displays — smartphones like the Galaxy S8 and Note 8, the OPPO F5, and the Vivo V7+ — it was hard to go back to my iPhone 7 Plus with its regular, 16:9 screen.
SEE ALSO: Complete specs of the Apple iPhone X
If I could put iOS into a Galaxy S8 unit, I would, I told myself. In short, I was so ready for a new iPhone look. No iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus for me, thank you very much.
If I could put iOS into a Galaxy S8 unit, I would, I told myself. In short, I was so ready for a new Apple iPhone look.
So off I went to Singapore, where the Apple iPhone X 64GB and 256GB variants sell for SG$1,648 and SG$1,888, respectively. In Philippine pesos and U.S. dollars, those prices would be equivalent to P61,910 or $1,207 and P70,926 or $1,383.
In this iPhone X per-country price comparison, our neighboring country is not exactly the place to be when you want a relatively more affordable iDevice. The cheapest one can be found in Japan. Add to that the low value of the peso these days (I eventually paid SG$39 for every peso I shelled out), and you’ll really spend more there.
However, the first Apple Store in Southeast Asia is situated in Singapore, and I had been meaning to check it out. It would be hitting two birds with one stone. Take note that besides its official shop, Apple’s resellers or retail partners are also selling iPhone X units, though.
READ ALSO: Samsung to make more money off iPhone X than Galaxy S8
Below, I share with you my journey to the Lion City of Asia. It was a journey full of exhaustion and stress. Exhaustion because I hadn’t had sleep from the time I woke up at 6 a.m. on November 2 till I came back here. Stress because the Apple Store had stopped giving out numbers to new customers even before I arrived there. And I was supposed to get two units — one for me and one for my friend who works at Voyager Innovations.
Did everything work out in the end? Watch this.
1/2 of Team Revü goes to Singapore to buy the Apple iPhone X
Share this Post
Learn About This Author
