Apple Preparing to Increase iPhone Prices

[Ramchi]

They can increase the price up by $500 all I care. My iPhone 15 Pro Max 512 GB will continue as long as it can. It has become like Laptops or Desktops, you typically replace it once in several years.

 

[acader]

I don't understand the negative comments directed toward Apple. In the U.S. market, almost everything has gone up dramatically in price over the last year. Gas is up over 40%. Look at the kwh cost on your electric bill. Since January 1, mine is up over 30%. Food prices - other than eggs, everything is up. New and used cars, all up. Have you gone to a restaurant lately? Hotel room prices are through the roof. Virtually all consumer goods are up. Internet services, all up. Stop blaming Apple and direct the blame where it belongs. I'll leave you to figure out where that is.

Unrelated, but I was traveling last week and the restaurant bill had options for 23%, 26% and 29% as "Suggested Tip".

 

[Apple$]

I’m good with my refurbished iPhone 15 Pro Max for at least another 2 years since I got it in April.

 

[CarAnalogy]

One of many reasons I'm glad I went ahead and got a 17 Pro Max, with storage bump. This thing's gonna have to last me a looooong time.

 

[bluesteel]

I’m holding onto my 15 Pro. Condition is like-new since it lives in a case and screen protector, and battery capacity is at 92% after three years. I’m not a heavy iPhone user anymore. 18 Pro was tempting for the rumored camera and battery improvements, but with the impending price increase, I lost interest. If I were someone that needed a new iPhone right now, though, I think the 17 Pro is a no-brainer, especially if the 18 Pro price increase is $200-$300.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

So glad I bought my Iphone 17 Pro and locked into the carrier trade in when I did. Can't imagine switching anytime soon, though I know this won't be the last rate increase.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Why is it difficult getting the battery replaced? With my daughter, we took her iPhone 13 Pro to Apple Store, had lunch at Cheesecake Factory, and when we were done, went back to Apple Store (all in the same mall) and her phone was ready. It couldn't have been easier or more convenient. For $90, it was the smartest decision over spending $1000 for a new phone.

Only thing is, that only works if you have an Apple Store within reasonable distance and/or can make a day of it.

I've done it, it definitely works. But it's does take some planning.

And after watching those Director Feng videos I'm kind of reluctant to take my phone anywhere unless absolutely necessary. Seeing all the things he does to take the utmost care and put it back together better than he got it...I sure wish I could trust everyone else to do that good of a job. I'm not even sure the Apple Store does it that well. I'm pretty sure the Apple repair part of Best Buy isn't going to do it.

 

[Apple$]

Yea, I have a feeling that one Apple will heavily advertise "low monthly price" and a lot of people will go for it.
How this turns out in the long run, we'll see probably plenty posts here at the 12/24 months marks...

I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple starts advertising the monthly price instead of the outright price. iPhone 18 Pro starting at $34/mo!

 

[Troff]

Consider the price of an upgraded storage model (in USD):

iPhone 12 Pro 512 gb (2020): $1299
iPhone 17 Pro 512 gb (2025): $1299 (and still $1299 as of August 2026)

Now consider general inflation (over 20%) + DRAM & NAND cost increases.
A $100 increase would look downright charitable considering market and currency conditions.
—

In the latest generation, Apple was able to maintain price by eliminating the lowest storage option and forcing the $100 upgrade. This worked because NAND was cheap and the forced upgrade had good margins. Today? A forced upgrade alone isn’t going to maintain historical margins percentages.

So what’s the pricing move for iPhone 18?
They could eliminate the 256Gb version, forcing an upgrade straight to the 512Gb model. That would really cement the “Pro” moniker and, price-wise, seat it comfortably between the base model and folding model.

However, I still think they are going to have to bump pricing across the entire line.
Entry level might get a $100 bump, but the 512Gb is going to be a $200-$300 increase.

View attachment 2655243

This is what I'm expecting.

Current pricing, and what we expect out of the new models (no major changes, possibly even heavier and thicker for at least the max) has me about to go ahead with getting a 512 GB 17 Pro this week. The trade in increases they did a while back are not terrible, I might even do that. I do sell on swappa plenty, but having used it several times this year to upgrade and sell of several family phones, I'm tired of going that route.

Also, I do love the blue 17 Pro, and looks like the 18 won't have any colors like it nor Cosmic Orange (not liking the cherry/burgundy much).

 

[jz0309]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple starts advertising the monthly price instead of the outright price. iPhone 18 Pro starting at $34/mo!

They might, and the "buy outright" might be in the smallest font there is

 

[webkit]

Glad I’m rich

Maybe you meant this as sarcasm but one doesn't have to be any "richer" today to be able to afford an iPhone than they did, for example, 19 years ago when the original first came out. Back then, AT&T didn't offer financing allowing customer to spread the phone price over years. Also, the carrier plans were a lot pricier e.g., the cheapest AT&T plan was $59.99/month (around $96/month in today's dollars) and that didn't include unlimited talk and text.

Even if AT&T did offer 24 month 0% APR financing then, the cost over two years for an 8GB iPhone at contract commitment price with cheapest available plan would’ve been around $3,000 in today's dollars based on the lowered September 2007 iPhone price.

Today, you can finance iPhones at 0% APR and get much cheaper plans especially through alternatives like MVNOs. Thanks to all of this, iPhone ownership can be much more "affordable" today than it had been. A full price 256GB iPhone 17 financed for 24 months at 0% plus a $25/month wireless plan would equal just $1,429 over two years. Even a $2,300 phone and $25/month wireless plan would be less than the $3,000 figure above.

 

[ayephoner]

Even considering that they tend to market new devices at buyers from 3-4 years ago, the 17 lineup will be good for anyone buying an iPhone over the next few years. The second hand market is on the verge of exploding whilst they struggle to sell new ones to anyone. If anyone has a phone older than the iPhone 15 line in their possession I would consider upgrading now rather than leaving it, even if you just keep it sealed in a drawer until the old one falls apart.

I think a lot of (most?) people still finance their phones. A $200 increase is a substantial increase, but over 36 months is only $5.50 more per month. Sadly we live in a world where everything is more expensive, so I doubt it will be seen as that much of a shock.

The flip side of that though is that we live in a world where everything is more expensive, so people can't afford a nicer phone and will be more likely to hold onto what they have.

 

[zenmacx]

Good for me - not buying any new iPhone anytime soon 😂

The pure joy I’m experiencing by deciding NOT to buy is amazing 😎

 

[rp100]

This is what I'm expecting.

Current pricing, and what we expect out of the new models (no major changes, possibly even heavier and thicker for at least the max) has me about to go ahead with getting a 512 GB 17 Pro this week. The trade in increases they did a while back are not terrible, I might even do that. I do sell on swappa plenty, but having used it several times this year to upgrade and sell of several family phones, I'm tired of going that route.

Also, I do love the blue 17 Pro, and looks like the 18 won't have any colors like it nor Cosmic Orange (not liking the cherry/burgundy much).

I upgraded to a 17 Pro 512Gb 2 weeks ago (from a 13 Pro). As someone who prefers upgrading on day-one of a new release, I died inside a little bit. The trade-in promo and Cook’s price-increase comment (“Unavoidable”) pushed me over the edge. There’s still an option to do a free early upgrade if my heart so desires, but I might wait it out for the iPhone 20. We’ll see…

 

[Virtually]

The prices already are high enough now what they need to raise is quality and durability. Increasing the ease of repair would also be nice.

 

[Virtually]

I'll be studying the launch with care, my 16 Pro is smashed (fell from my hand getting out of the car). If the increases are high, I'll get a 17 Pro, before those prices go up, but if the price increases are reasonable (and compared to other purchases we've had to make at work this year, they are very reasonable), depending on the specs. If they do a Google and reduce the amount of RAM and up the price, I will probably go with the 17 Pro...

Failed after a single four foot drop and you want to get another one? You are a glutton for punishment.

 

[Rradcircless]

This makes me glad I caved and bought the 17 Pro Max on a massive discount last week.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

They can increase the price up by $500 all I care. My iPhone 15 Pro Max 512 GB will continue as long as it can. It has become like Laptops or Desktops, you typically replace it once in several years.

Glad you're happy with a $500 increase because Apple never lowers prices, so a $500 hike now means in a couple years when you need a new phone, you'll be paying at least $500 more! But at least you're happy doing that.

 

[I7guy]

Glad you're happy with a $500 increase because Apple never lowers prices, so a $500 hike now means in a couple years when you need a new phone, you'll be paying at least $500 more! But at least you're happy doing that.

Most people with a sense of value will be annoyed at the hike in price. But what are the options:
1. Crib about it online and buy the phone anyway
2. don’t buy an iPhone in the future
3. Hope the AI bubble bursts.

I mean if you want a new phone and the price is the price, do what you feel is best.

 

[citysnaps]

I don't understand the negative comments directed toward Apple. In the U.S. market, almost everything has gone up dramatically in price over the last year. Gas is up over 40%. Look at the kwh cost on your electric bill. Since January 1, mine is up over 30%. Food prices - other than eggs, everything is up. New and used cars, all up. Have you gone to a restaurant lately? Hotel room prices are through the roof. Virtually all consumer goods are up. Internet services, all up. Stop blaming Apple and direct the blame where it belongs. I'll leave you to figure out where that is.

Many people here feel good and get an empowering rush slamming Apple everyday of the year. A forum tradition going back 20 years. Apparently the same people believe that Apple is somehow immune from inflation which drives the cost of services and parts used in Apple products upward.

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

Now THIS Gurman report I believe, sadly

 

[webkit]

Glad you're happy with a $500 increase because Apple never lowers prices

I wouldn't say Apple never lowers prices. Apple lowered the price of the original iPhone less than three months after launch. The iPhone 3G had a lower price than the original iPhone it replaced. The iPhone 11 had a lower price than the iPhone XR it replaced. Apple has also lowered prices on other products.

 

[rixa001]

To be honest, I was going to wait until next year to upgrade (from 16 PM). But with T-Mo upping their prices and getting a 'deal' with another carrier, it somewhat made sense to just settle on updating/upgrading to a 17 PM. I may miss out on better specs and improvements, but I'm still getting a 'future-proof' device without paying more because of OS/AI (especially after their AI fiasco). Besides, the 18 seems more of an 'S' upgrade that's not worth the rumored $150+ increase (despite the cherry colored-haha).

My 3 cents.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

I wouldn't say Apple never lowers prices. Apple lowered the price of the original iPhone less than three months after launch. The iPhone 3G had a lower price than the original iPhone it replaced. The iPhone 11 had a lower price than the iPhone XR it replaced. Apple has also lowered prices on other products.

Didn’t they lower the prices on the 15 PM compared to the 14PM

 

[throAU]

Newsflash!

Products containing flash and dram increase in price during year of 6x increase in DRAM cost and 3-4x rise in flash pricing!


For those who don't keep track of the tech industry as a whole - its pretty bad out there.

I've had servers increase in price by 4-5x (yes, 4 to 5 times the cost) based on the dram and flash storage supply constraints. Datacenter is consuming it all.

If apple get away with a 10-20% price rise, consider it amazingly great in this market.