Apple’s new iPhone Duo is priced higher in Canada than in the U.S.

Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo is launching in Canada at a starting price of $2,999 before tax, compared with $1,999 US in the United States, which translates to nearly 10% more for Canadian buyers. The phone was unveiled on Wednesday and is set to go on preorder on Oct. 17, with retail availability beginning Oct. 23. The higher Canadian price has prompted questions about whether tariffs are to blame, but economists say that is not the case here. They note the device is built in China, so Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods do not apply, and that smartphone pricing differences between countries are common. Experts interviewed by CBC said the gap likely reflects Apple’s pricing strategy in a smaller market where buyers of a highend device may be less pricesensitive. They also pointed to broader cost pressures in consumer electronics, including a global microchip shortage linked to strong demand from the AI and data centre sectors.