Shortly after Apple CEO Tim Cookwarned that price increases were becoming unavoidable, the company raised prices across a range of products, including Macs, iPads, Vision Pro, and home hardware. While the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods were initially spared, Apple hinted that higher prices were eventually coming for the rest of the products.
Now, the company is reportedly preparing to raise the current iPhone 17 price, mere weeks before unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro.
Coming next week
Apple could raise iPhone 17 prices next week | Image by Fixed Focus Digital
Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital claims Apple could jack up iPhone 17 prices as early as Monday, August 10. The leaker isn't entirely confident about the scoop, so Apple may still be dillydallying.
The post also suggests that Apple has dialed back production capacity. Whether that's to free up resources for the iPhone 18 Pro or to manage component supply isn't clear.
How would a more expensive iPhone 17 influence your iPhone 18 Pro/Ultra purchase plans?
Strategic timing
With Apple likely to announce the iPhone 18 Pro on September 9, the iPhone 17 series, or at least the Pro models, is nearing the end of its lifecycle. By bumping up prices now, Apple would create a buffer to make the forthcoming price hike, which could be as much as $300, a little less jarring.
Going straight from the $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro to a $1,399 iPhone 18 Pro would shock buyers. If current models get a mid-cycle bump first, a higher price tag would be much easier to digest.
New pricing paradigms
The memory crunch is reportedly so severe that it's holding up the production of the A20 Pro chip that will power the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra. Only a few units may be available at release, likely leading to a shortage.
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Component-driven price hike aside, the introduction of the $2,300 iPhone Ultra means that Apple will once again be pushing the price ceiling. For context, the base iPhone 17 launched at $799. By raising prices across the lineup before it unveils its new products, Apple will acclimate buyers.
No escaping the price hike
Apple isn't the only company to raise prices existing products. Samsung hiked prices on several handsets and tablets in April. Its latest top-tier foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, costs $2,099, $100 more than the Fold 7. Xiaomi and OnePlus have also increased prices. Google has already warned buyers to expect higher Pixel 11 prices.
The iPhone 18 Pro price jump is going to sting more because Apple's handsets are already among the most expensive on the market.
Here's why the iPhone 18 Pro might be worth the higher price:
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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