Apple has finally entered the much-awaited foldable smartphone race with its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. The device, showcased at the company's keynote event in Cupertino, is one of the biggest design changes to the iPhone lineup in years. The base version of the iPhone Duo is priced at ₹2,99,900 in India, while the top-end model is priced at ₹4,49,900, making it Apple's most expensive iPhone yet. The Duo could be the ultimate luxury upgrade for Apple enthusiasts who are willing to shell out around ₹4.5 lakh for the new foldable. However, you can buy many other things with that amount.

Here are some things you can think of buying or spending money on instead of the Rs 4,49,900 iPhone Duo, like the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 or a Bangkok vacation worth 220 grams of gold.

Bangkok Trip
A five to seven day trip to Bangkok for two, including return flights, accommodation, meals, local transportation and sightseeing, can cost between ₹1.3 lakh and ₹2 lakh, depending on the hotel, flight and activities chosen.

Gold
Gold is another option you can consider if you're looking for something different that can also be an investment. Gold has long been seen as an investment and a storehouse of wealth. At current rates, 25 grams of 24K gold costs approximately Rs 3.73 lakh–Rs 3.88 lakh. Gold prices have also increased significantly over the past five years. During this period, the price of 10 grams of gold has increased by approximately Rs 1.04 lakh, reflecting the sharp increase in the price of the precious metal.

Maruti Alto K10
If you're tired of spending hours commuting to work by public transport, this money can help you own your own car. The on-road price of the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 STD (O) petrol is around ₹ 4.45 lakh, depending on the city and applicable charges.

Fixed Deposits
A fixed deposit (FD), one of the most traditional and perhaps safest investment options, can also be considered. FD interest rates in India typically range between 6% and 7% annually, depending on the bank and the term. If you invest ₹449,900 in an FD at an assumed interest rate of 6.5% for one year, you can earn approximately ₹29,243 in interest. This will bring the total amount before tax to approximately ₹4.79 lakh.

PC: MERA FN