Why This Topic Landed in Japan

A smartphone is a daily necessity, so a price change hits household budgets directly—which is why both the Duo's price and a simultaneous round of hikes on existing models landed as a double shock. The Duo runs from 364,800 yen (256GB) to 574,800 yen (2TB) and brings back Touch ID; at the same time, models like the iPhone 17 went up (its 256GB version rose from 142,800 to 159,800 yen). With the yen already weak, the timing fed a "this is just an opportunistic markup" reaction and even talk of long-time iPhone users leaving the platform.

Key Reaction Themes

  • Sticker shock (most common) — By far the largest strand rejected the 364,800–574,800 yen range outright, comparing it to a PC or even a kei car.
  • Anger at the hikes and the weak yen — Many read the simultaneous increase on existing models as arrogant price-gouging, tied to soaring memory prices and the exchange rate.
  • Looking at Android or an iPad — A practical thread said they would jump to Android or just buy an iPad instead.
  • A minority who still value it — A smaller group weighed the hardware or the brand status and said they would preorder anyway.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

The foldable iPhone Duo and hikes on existing models

Reaction to the 364,800–574,800 yen pricing and the simultaneous hikes on existing models.

Sources: AUTOMATON, CNET Japan, 2ch

Comments:

  • "Way too expensive—this price for a phone is insane."
  • "The prices—256GB: 364,800 yen / 512GB: 399,800 yen / 1TB: 469,800 yen / 2TB: 574,800 yen. Who's going to buy this…"
  • "There's a limit to arrogant price-gouging."
  • "Memory prices are soaring, and the yen is weaker than last year."
  • "It's not just the iPhone—prices on other phones won't stop rising either. That's why people said to buy early."
  • "Huh, lol. Maybe I'll go Android next… I don't want to shell out 400,000–600,000 yen for a flip phone, lol"
  • "Ten years ago that was enough to buy a kei car."
  • "I mean, 500,000 yen for a phone—are they nuts?"
  • "Enter me, an Apple devotee who's poured enough into Apple to buy a luxury import car. Of course I'll preorder this too—just owning Apple products raises your status."
  • "I wonder how durable it is. If there's no problem, it becomes an option."