The price gap between Apple's new phones in Taiwan and the US has widened to a record, which is bad news for Taiwanese buyers.

• Apple launched its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 line.
• Taiwan's prices work out to an exchange rate of 37 to 38 New Taiwan dollars per US dollar, while the real rate is about 31.5.
• Part of the gap is real: US prices exclude sales tax, and Taiwan's include a 5% business tax.
• Apple also locks prices for a full year, so it builds in a cushion against currency swings, plus shipping, warranty, and local costs.
• To protect its home market share, Apple holds US price increases down and pushes the extra cost of pricier memory chips onto overseas buyers.

Outlook: The overseas markup looks set to stay, with 2026 shaping up as the widest Taiwan-US price gap yet.