📱 iPhone Market Overview
Türkiye's iPhone market faces a severe affordability crisis driven by extraordinary economic turmoil — the Turkish lira lost over 80% of its value against the dollar between 2018 and 2026, while Apple prices iPhones in USD and converts to local currency. A new iPhone 16 now costs approximately TRY 75,000–100,000 — representing 3–4 months of the average Turkish salary. This economic reality has sharply reduced new iPhone purchases and pushed the market toward older secondhand models. Istanbul's tech and business community remains the primary new iPhone buyer, often purchasing abroad.
- iOS Share20.5%
- Android Share79.2%
- Trend📉 Declining (inflation, currency devaluation making iPhones extremely expensive)
- Top carrierTurkcell / Vodafone TR / Türk Telekom
- 5G adoptionGrowing — Istanbul, Ankara
- EU DMA effectNot applicable (non-EU)
🌍 Who Uses iPhones in Türkiye?
Turkish iPhone users are heavily concentrated in Istanbul's business, finance and media communities — the only demographic that can afford new iPhone prices given the lira's depreciation. Ankara's government and diplomatic community also shows above-average adoption. Many Turkish iPhone users purchase devices in Germany, the Netherlands or the UAE where prices are lower in effective purchasing-power terms.
- Dominant age group22–45 (Istanbul professional)
- Urban vs ruralIstanbul-dominant
- Income correlationVery strong premium correlation — only high earners
- Gender split (iOS)Slight male majority (tech professional)
🏆 Most Popular iPhone Models in Türkiye
Turkey's market is dominated by older and secondhand iPhones. The iPhone 12 and 13 are the most common in circulation, with iPhone 14 representing a significant purchase for most Turkish buyers. New iPhone 16 purchases are limited to the most affluent.
iPhone 13iPhone 12iPhone 14iPhone 11iPhone SE 3rd Gen
| Model | Storage | Why Popular | Avg Price (TRY) |
|---|
| iPhone 16 | 128GB–512GB | Luxury purchase for most Turks — bought abroad | TRY 75,000+ |
| iPhone 14 | 128GB–512GB | Top affordable 'new generation' choice | TRY 49,990–TRY 64,990 |
| iPhone 13 | 128GB–512GB | Most common current iPhone in Turkey | TRY 34,990–TRY 44,990 |
| iPhone 12 | 64GB–256GB | Budget flagship, widely available | TRY 24,990–TRY 32,990 |
🍎 Apple Ecosystem in Türkiye
Apple Pay works in Turkey through Garanti BBVA, Yapı Kredi, İş Bankası and other major Turkish banks. Getir (Turkish food delivery pioneer) and BiTaksi (taxi app) both accept Apple Pay. Istanbul's modern retail is increasingly contactless-friendly.
- Apple Pay✅ Available — major Turkish banks
- App Store languageTurkish
- Apple TV+✅ TRY 89.99/month
- Apple Music✅ TRY 62.99/month
- iCloud pricing50GB: TRY 19/mo | 200GB: TRY 59/mo
📶 Network & iOS Compatibility
Türkiye's 5G network is expanding in Istanbul and Ankara, with Turkcell leading deployment. The country's large geographic size means rural coverage is a long-term challenge, but major population centres have good 4G connectivity and growing 5G coverage.
- iOS 18 adoption~84% of iPhones
- Oldest supportediPhone XS / XR
- 5G compatibleiPhone 12 onwards
- USB-C requirediPhone 15 onwards (EU law)
- Safari alt. browsersAvailable (DMA 2024)
❓ FAQs — iPhone Users in Türkiye
What is the iOS market share in Türkiye?
iOS holds approximately 20.5% of the mobile OS market share in Türkiye as of 2026, with Android accounting for around 79.2%. Türkiye's 20.5% iOS market share has been under pressure from extraordinary inflation and Turkish lira devaluation that has made iPhones prohibitively expensive relative to local wages — a new iPhone 16 Pro can cost 3–4 months of the average Turkish salary.
Why has iPhone become so expensive in Türkiye?
Türkiye's iPhone affordability crisis stems from extraordinary inflation and Turkish lira devaluation — the lira lost approximately 80% of its value against the US dollar between 2018 and 2026. Since Apple prices iPhones globally in USD and converts to local currencies, iPhone prices in TRY have risen dramatically while average Turkish wages have not kept pace, making iPhones cost 3–4 months of the average salary.
Do many Turkish people buy iPhones abroad?
Yes — it's common for Turkish travelers and business people to purchase iPhones when visiting Germany, the UAE, Qatar, or other countries where, in purchasing-power-adjusted terms, iPhones are significantly more affordable than in Turkey. The EU's standard pricing and the UAE's VAT-free electronics environment are popular destinations for this cross-border purchasing.
Which iPhone should I buy in Türkiye in 2026?
For most Türkiye users in 2026, the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro offers the best value — full iOS 18 support, Apple Intelligence features, USB-C (required in the EU), and 5G compatibility with Türkiye's networks. Budget-conscious buyers may prefer the iPhone 15 or refurbished iPhone 14.