iPhone Users Allegedly Charged More for Cabs Than Android Users (Image: X/TallGuyTycoon)
A recent investigation by The Times of India (TOI) explored whether ride-hailing apps charge higher fares to iPhone users compared to Android users.
TOI conducted an experiment using an iPhone and an Android device to book identical rides from three locations in Chennai.
Yes. And there is a lot more that is wrong. If you check the fare or time twice the fare shoots up. @Moneylifers and I had vastly different fares on the same infamous app which is @kunalkamra88 ‘s favourite because I checked thrice to estimate the time to location! pic.twitter.com/ButZhSrfx0
— Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) December 26, 2024
The results showed that in each case, the fare displayed was higher on the iPhone. The price disparity was more pronounced for shorter distances and single rides although the pattern may not be consistent and could vary depending on the time and day.
Uber denied having a policy of personalising trip pricing based on the user’s phone, attributing any disparities to factors like estimated time, distance and real-time demand for cabs. Ola did not respond to TOI’s queries yet.
Also, read| Flipkart Accused Of Charging iOS Users More Than Android Users For Same Product
This pricing disparity controversy has been there on the X platform as users have taken to social media to report major differences in cab fares when booking through iPhone and Android devices.
iPhone users are often quoted higher fares compared to Android users for the same route, time and cab type. This discrepancy has raised questions on social media about the algorithms used by ride-hailing companies and whether they’re unfairly targeting iPhone users.
Someone booked the same Uber from one spot on two phones but caught different fares!
– Android: $10.50
– iPhone: $12.36iPhone users perceived as able to pay more are charged more.
Smart strategy or shady? As tech advances, should companies be upfront about such tactics? pic.twitter.com/r6I7OtsFtI
— Armando Pantoja (@_TallGuyTycoon) December 24, 2024
A similar incident happened a month ago when an X user triggered a discussion online after highlighting a price difference for the same product on Flipkart, depending on the user’s operating system.
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Taking to the social media platform, the user shared screenshots from the e-commerce app showing a noticeable price variation for iPhone and Android users, he wrote: “Android vs iOS – different prices on Flipkart app. Same Mokobara cabin suitcase costs Rs 4,119 on Flipkart’s Android app vs Rs 4,799 on iOS app,” he attached screenshots as well.
Moreover, Android users have a no-cost EMI option starting at Rs 1,373 per month, while for iOS users, the EMI starts from Rs 1,600 per month. Sharma questioned Flipkart’s pricing strategy saying Apple charges a 30% commission on subscriptions which makes sense for services, but not for e-commerce.
