I would be ecstatic if I could buy a "$400 iPhone" for only $400.

Apple prices tend to be higher, not only in absolute terms, but also relative to their competitors. A Samsung phone that sells for $800 in the US might cost $900, while an Apple phone that sells for $800 in the US will cost over $1000.

The new iphone SE starts at $429.00

Not in India, that's the point:

https://www.apple.com/in/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-se/

It is INR 43900, or around USD 570.

ETA: In Brazil, it is BRL 4199 or USD 825.

https://www.apple.com/br/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-se/

And that's at market exchange rates. Adjusted for purchasing power or wages it would be even more expensive, I assume.

My apologies, I read the parent comment again, and I see what they meant.

A few years ago Apple used to "only" charge the same price in Euros as they did in USD. Well, not anymore! The German prices of the iPhone SE start at 519 € - around 571 USD (source: https://www.apple.com/de/iphone-se/). So India definitely isn't alone with the inflated prices...

That comparison is slightly misleading because the German price includes the local VAT. Tax-free price (unless I'm mistaken) would be approximately 436 euros, so more than in the US, but not 150 dollars more.

The EU prices are inclusive of ~20% local sales tax.

Does Brazil still have a 100% tariffs on foreign made electronics? And the US charges almost none to highly favoured nations ie. China. So $429 iPhone in the US will be over $800 after duties in Brazil. And this is not set by Apple but the Brazilian authorities.

The taxes vary and are around 60% in the case of the iPhone.

We have the ICMS in São Paulo (18%), the national tax on industrialized products (IPI – 15%) and the tax on imports (II – 16%). In addition to them, there is still PIS (2.10%) and Cofins (9.65%).