Where to buy the iPhone 6S in South Africa and what you’ll pay for it [update]

Apple’s phase two iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus launch is a go, after the company launched the device just over a month ago to major markets. South Africa and many of the other BRICS and emerging markets are getting their share of the Apple phone today, but where on earth can you buy one?

Well, don’t fear, and don’t camp outside Apple stores with hope in your heart either, because we list all the outlets and prices of Apple‘s latest phones in and around South Africa for your convenience.

This list is subject to change as well, as more locations and outlets announce availability, so stay tuned.

Vodacom

One of South Africa’s big four mobile providers was one of the first to break word of the Apple phones’ availability, and its offering both devices in all colours at various rates. Midrand’s VodaWorld will be the first store in SA to receive the phone, and the pricing details are as follows:

• 16GB iPhone 6S – Vodacom Smart S for R549 per month for 24 months, and other contracts
• 64GB iPhone 6S – Vodacom Smart S for R799 per month for 24 months, and other contracts
• 128GB iPhone 6S – Vodacom Smart S for R899 per month for 24 months, and other contracts
• 16GB iPhone 6S Plus – Vodacom Smart M for R699 per month for 24 months, and other contracts
• 64GB iPhone 6S Plus – Vodacom Smart M for R799 per month for 24 months, and other contracts
• 128GB iPhone 6S Plus – Vodacom Smart M for R899 per month for 24 months, and other contracts

 

All contracts mentioned above include 1GB free data for the first three months.

Vodacom’s media liaison Ashleigh Dubbelman in an email to Gearburn noted that “the majority of our stores will be selling the device” from today.

MTN

MTN will be going a different route, offering the iPhone 6S 16GB and iPhone 6S Plus 16GB for prepaid and contract users. The iPhone 6S will start at R12 599, and the iPhone 6s Plus will start at R14 499.

The company will be selling two contacts as well including:

• 16GB iPhone 6S – My MTNChoice 100 for R489 per month for 24 month
• 16GB iPhone 6S Plus – MTN My MTNChoice 100 for R559 per month for 24 months

 

Initially, the phones will be available at its Fairlands, Johannesburg head office, its Canal Walk branch in Cape Town and at Umhlanga’s Gatemax. The device should also be available to purchase online. All contracts include an additional 10GB for the first three months.

Cell C

Cell C customers are also receiving Apple’s new phone, and the prices definitely seem to undercut its rivals:

• 16GB iPhone 6S – Epic 150 for R449 per month for 24 months
• 64GB iPhone 6S – Epic 150 for R499 per month for 24 months
• 128GB iPhone 6S – Epic 150 for R599 per month for 24 months
• 16GB iPhone 6S Plus – Epic 150 for R499 per month for 24 months
• 64GB iPhone 6S Plus – Epic 150 for R549 per month for 24 months
• 128GB iPhone 6S Plus – Epic 150 for R649 per month for 24 months

 

The device should be available at Cell C stores in major centres and online.

Telkom

Update: Telkom has assured us in a tweet that some contracts are available for as low at R399.

@AndyWalkerSA Hi, please see http://t.co/WJOZonnM9R as we have different options ranging from R399 pm. ^MB

— Telkom (@TelkomZA) October 16, 2015

South Africa’s Telkom will be offering the device on a few more contracts than its rivals, with prices ranging from R559 to R1899 depending on which plan the consumer purchases. We list the cheapest contracts below, which is the SmartPlan 50:

• 16GB iPhone 6S – R559 per month for 24 months
• 64GB iPhone 6S – R659 per month for 24 months
• 128GB iPhone 6S – R749 per month for 24 months
• 16GB iPhone 6S Plus – R659 per month for 24 months
• 64GB iPhone 6S Plus – R749 per month for 24 months
• 128GB iPhone 6S Plus – R849 per month for 24 months

 

Other contracts available include the SmarPlan 100, Unlimited Lite, and Completely Unlimited, which sets users back about R1000 more across the board when compared to the SmartPlan 50. You should be able to purchase the phones at Telkom’s major physical stores and online as well.

iStore

The flagship Apple store in South Africa will also be selling the device, and was the first retailer to announce its availability. Although it does offer contract accounts as well (on behalf of the country’s mobile operators), it’s also offering the devices on prepaid with a number of trade-in deals. Here are the listed deals: iStore allows users to purchase the device online, as well at its branches across the country.

Takealot

One of the country’s biggest online retailers has also announced that it will be offering the new iPhones, and had them in stock for quite a while prior to today’s countrywide launch The interesting thing about Takealot’s prices are the variations in pricing according to device colour, primarily due to import costs. The prices for the 16GB models are as follows:

• 16GB iPhone 6S Space Grey – R11 799
• 16GB iPhone 6S Silver – R13 899
• 16GB iPhone 6S Rose Gold – R11 799
• 16GB iPhone 6S Gold – R14 999 (imported)

 

The 64GB and 128GB iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus models can be found here.

FNB

First National Bank will also offer its clients the Apple phone, in all four colours and in all six guises. The financial institution has however not released any pricing information for the devices, but did note that consumers can purchase the phones using eBucks.

Update (19 Oct): The company has finally released pricing details for the Apple phones and it looks pretty much on par with other retailers, albeit some offers are around R20 per month cheaper than Telkom’s offerings.

• 16GB iPhone 6S – R559 per month for 24 months
• 64GB iPhone 6S – R639 per month for 24 months
• 128GB iPhone 6S – R729 per month for 24 months
• 16GB iPhone 6S Plus – R639 per month for 24 months
• 64GB iPhone 6S Plus – R729 per month for 24 months
• 128GB iPhone 6S Plus – R829 per month for 24 months

The devices are listed on FNB’s smart devices store and marked as limited stock, so we’re not too sure how many of these phones FNB’s actually stocking.

We’ll add more stores to this list as soon as we hear word. For now, let us know if you’ve managed to purchase your iPhone 6S in the poll below.