Apple iPhone 16 now banned in Indonesia

Infused with AI-driven features, the iPhone 16 lineup arrived last month, and, in some markets, its buyers will have to wait until next year for those promised features to become available. Sadly, Indonesian Apple fans cannot buy any of these new handsets locally, because their sale has been banned for not complying with a certain law. On the bright side, they can still acquire any of the iPhone 16 handsets from abroad, online or from brick and mortar locations, then pay the required import taxes that may apply.

In a statement issued on Friday, ministry spokesman Febri Hendri Antoni Arief said the following:

"Imported iPhone 16 hardwares cannot be marketed in the country, because Apple Indonesia has not fulfilled its investment commitment to earn a local content certification."

Based on the above, the chances for Apple to make the required changes are slim. According to Statista, Apple has a share of over 12% in Indonesia. Last year, a total of roughly nine million units were sold on the local market in the fourth quarter. 

Sporting a custom-made A18 chip, new camera features, and minor design changes overall, the Apple iPhone 16 lineup received a lukewarm response from the public and the press. Sadly for Apple and its shareholders, this also translated to lower demand. According to Morgan Stanley, the vanilla version and the Plus edition sold roughly 37 million units in the first weekend on the market. Judging on the lead times (how long it takes for an order to arrive after the payment is complete), the iPhone 16 lineup is the worst performer in the last five years, with roughly the same performance as the iPhone 12 family.

US residents interested in the top-of-the-line iPhone 16 can grab the 256 GB Pro Max in Natural Titanium finish off Amazon for $0.01, but this would require a Boost Mobile wireless plan and 36 month financing through the carrier (the handset is obviously locked on Boost Mobile). The terms and conditions of this deal can be found on the aforementioned Amazon product page.