Apple will reportedly allow Indian retailers to offer a trade-in scheme for customers looking to purchase an iPhone 5C or 4S.
Apple's Indian distributor has been sending dealers emails about a special buyback scheme, which will let retailers trade in smartphones for a discount of up to 13,000 rupees ($210) off the price of the iPhone models, India Todayreported.
The amount offered will depend on the condition of the used phone, and only a list of approved smartphones can be bought back. These include multiple newer Samsung smartphones, the Nokia Lumia 925 and several recent HTC and Sony models.
The 16GB model of the iPhone 5C retails in India for around 41,900 rupees ($670).
Despite repeated insistences that the iPhone 5C was not intended to be a “budget iPhone”, Apple has come under sustained criticism for pricing the phone too high in emerging markets, considering the strong growth and increasing competition in the mid-range and low-end smartphone segments. A buyback model could go some way to bridging the gap.