On the night Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, it also updated the Turkish price list. The iPhone 17 rose to 99,999 TL, the iPhone Air to 122,999 TL, and the iPhone 18 Pro to 137,999 TL. As every autumn, the first question that comes to mind is the same: Is it worthwhile to bring someone from abroad?

The reason the answer isn’t easy this year is that both sides of the equation have changed simultaneously. On one hand, Turkish prices have increased, and on the other hand, the IMEI registration fee paid for phones brought from abroad has risen from 45,614 TL to 54,258 TL at the beginning of 2026. Moreover, this fee is fixed: the same amount is paid for a 20,000 TL phone as for a 250,000 TL phone. As a result, the overseas option becomes meaningless for cheaper models, while it becomes advantageous for more expensive models.

How was the calculation made?

In the comparison, we converted the current sticker prices in Apple’s US store to 48.50 TL, which is the exchange rate as of September 9, 2026, and added the IMEI registration fee of 54,258 TL. The sales tax (0-10%) which varies by state in the US was not included in the calculation; For example, there is no sales tax in Delaware, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Montana.

Critical threshold: 100,000 TL

The breaking point in the table is clear. Since the fee is fixed, importing models from abroad that cost less than approximately 100,000 TL in Turkey is pointless: you lose 15,000 TL on an iPhone 17e and 7,000 TL on an iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 is right on the threshold, the difference is negligible.

When you go above this line, the picture reverses. The difference increases to 25,000 TL on the iPhone 18 Pro and 32,000 TL on the Pro Max. The real gap is in high-capacity and foldable models: a difference of 80,000 TL on the 2 TB iPhone 18 Pro Max and 78,000 TL on the iPhone Duo. In other words, as the device gets more expensive, the deterrent effect of the fixed fee diminishes.

Not included in the calculation

The numbers alone are not sufficient to make a decision. The following points also need to be considered:

• Travel cost: Flying just to buy a phone doesn’t pay for itself in any model. The table is mainly valid for individuals traveling abroad.
• Three-year rule: The right to bring a phone with a travel exemption can be used once every three calendar years. If you registered in 2025, this right is closed until 2027.
• 120-day period: If the phone is not registered via e-Government within 120 days of its entry into Turkey, it will be blocked from the network.
• Cargo ban: The device must be brought with the passenger; Phones arriving by cargo or mail are not considered within this scope and registration in the other person’s name is not accepted.
• Warranty: Authorized service processes and warranty coverage in Turkey may differ for devices brought from abroad.
• eSIM and model differences: Some models sold in certain countries do not have a physical SIM slot. According to Apple’s Turkish specifications page, the iPhone 18 Pro is sold in our country with nano-SIM + eSIM support; the US model is eSIM only.

What happens if the exchange rate fluctuates?

The most vulnerable aspect of the calculation is the exchange rate. When the dollar reaches 50 TL, the overseas cost of the iPhone 18 Pro increases to 114,208 TL, and the advantage decreases to 23,791 TL. At 55 TL, the cost becomes 120,203 TL, and the difference decreases to 17,796 TL. Similarly, if the IMEI fee increases again in 2027 with the evaluation rate, the threshold will shift upwards, and the option of importing from abroad in the mid-range segment will become completely meaningless.