Travel Technology - Macbook Air: US vs. Singapore

Is it cheaper to purchase a Macbook Air in the US or Singapore (I'm a US resident who will be travelling to Singapre)? If Singapore, are the savings substantial?

No significant difference on the base cost before taxes. I compared prices back in April and I think global prices are carefully controlled by Apple. Singapore levies a sales tax of over 7% I think; you can get a portion of it back upon exit at the airport. If you live in California, and you can buy your MacBook air in a no-sales-tax state like Oregon, I would recommend that instead.

Remember Singapore's power plugs are the British type and are bulkier and heavier than US types. So all things favor buying here in the US.

I have never found tremendous deals of electronics in Singapore, although there are some inexpensive asiacentric products not available in the West.

The WalMart effect in the US means that very few places on earth have significantly better pricing on electronic goods. And as Buster mentioned above, the downside of a foreign purchase (odd components made for local markets, no ability to make a return, etc.) is much greater.

Only those with a wayback machine set to the 1970's Hong Kong are likely to consistently get better deals on legitimate hardware in Asia.

Make sure you get the additional AppleCare. It's global coverage and has saved my butt while overseas.

The best price is in Hong Kong because there is no sales tax. Apple prices their products identically throughout the globe and the only differences are the taxes and duties of each country.

Only those with a wayback machine set to the 1970's Hong Kong are likely to consistently get better deals on legitimate hardware in Asia.



Ain't that the truth!

I was just in Hong Kong last week and expected to see incredible deals on electronics. So, I spent hours wandering the Mong Kok shopping district, but when I ran price comparisons on camera equipment, laptops, etc. (calculating using XE's exchange rates HKD->USD), the prices were virtually identical to U.S. prices. Well, shoot! No reason to haul equipment back and pay duty (on the amount over $800 in value) when I can get it State-side with just a tiny amount of tax, or via mail order with no tax.

Remember Singapore's power plugs are the British type and are bulkier and heavier than US types. So all things favor buying here in the US.
If you do travel, u can always get the different plug types from apple. that is if you care about it. much cooler than using an adapter.

Anyway, apple products are usualyl price controlled

The keyboard on a machine you buy elsewhere will likely not have a US layout.

MacBooks sold in Singapore have the standard US keyboard layout. Also, standard retail boxes come with both the UK (three pin) and US (two pin) plugs for the power adapter.

Sales tax here is 7% but if you do some paperwork you can get it back at the airport. I guess you can figure from that whether it's worth it.

MacBooks sold in Singapore have the standard US keyboard layout. Also, standard retail boxes come with both the UK (three pin) and US (two pin) plugs for the power adapter.

Sales tax here is 7% but if you do some paperwork you can get it back at the airport. I guess you can figure from that whether it's worth it.

do you still get the US pin now? I've got mine some 3 years ago but a lot has changed, it seems. the newer sales no longer have the extension cable which is always great!

MacBooks sold in Singapore have the standard US keyboard layout. Also, standard retail boxes come with both the UK (three pin) and US (two pin) plugs for the power adapter.

Sales tax here is 7% but if you do some paperwork you can get it back at the airport. I guess you can figure from that whether it's worth it.

do you still get the US pin now? I've got mine some 3 years ago but a lot has changed, it seems. the newer sales no longer have the extension cable which is always great!

do you still get the US pin now? I've got mine some 3 years ago but a lot has changed, it seems. the newer sales no longer have the extension cable which is always great!

Nice thing about purchasing in Singapore is that cables for other standards (including US) are pretty easy to get and quite inexpensive. I'm not familiar with Apple power packs but I assume that they take a standard cord at the power pack end, right?

Before you buy, don't forget to take the exchange rate into account. At the moment rate is US$1 = S$1.44 official, I guess street rate is probably closer to S$1.40.

buy in the US via mail order and pay no taxes. some places like macconnection give a rebate at certain times too.