Base iPhone 17 Pro Could Cost $200 More But With Doubled Storage

[MacRumors]

Apple will maintain its entry-level pricing for the standard iPhone 17 this year, but the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are set to get price hikes, albeit with a minimum storage boost for the iPhone 17 Pro model, according to TrendForce.

The market research company expects the regular iPhone 17 model to have the same $799 starting price and 128GB base storage as last year's iPhone 16, while both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with 256GB base storage options and increases of $50-$100 per comparable capacity. The full iPhone 17 lineup pricing could break down like so:

Model	128GB	256GB	512GB	1TB
iPhone 17	$799	$899	$1,099	—
iPhone 17 Air	—	$1,099	$1,299	$1,499
iPhone 17 Pro	—	$1,199	$1,399	$1,599
iPhone 17 Pro Max	—	$1,299	$1,499	$1,699

According to TrendForce's figures, starting at $1,199, the cheapest iPhone 17 Pro will be $200 more than the cheapest iPhone 16 Pro, but with 256GB instead of 128GB. Customers who want a 512GB or 1TB Pro model will also have to pay $100 more than the comparable capacity last year. Meanwhile, a maxed-out 1TB iPhone 17 Pro Max will cost $1,699, up from $1,599.

Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB storage, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max already begins at 256GB for $1,199. Both Pro models are also offered with a maximum 1TB of storage. The iPhone 16 Plus – which the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air replaces – starts at $899 with 128GB storage.

Before the launch of the iPhone 15 series in 2023, there were rumors that the iPhone 15 Pro Max would drop the 128GB tier and start at $1,199, up from $1,099 for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The rumor proved accurate, although Apple eliminated the lower storage option, effectively raising the entry price. Apple appears to be following a similar strategy for the iPhone 17 Air and Pro models, but with a more significant price hike for customers looking for the cheapest Pro model.

Earlier this week, J.P. Morgan offered price estimates for the iPhone 17 series that put the iPhone 17 Pro starting price at $1,099, or $100 lower than TrendForce's prediction.

Apple is expected to unveil the full iPhone 17 lineup next week on Tuesday, September 9 at its "Awe dropping" event. Both the MacRumors site and our X (Twitter) account are excellent ways to discuss the new announcements with other Apple enthusiasts as Apple unveils its new products. Later in the day and throughout the week, we'll also have much more in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements, so make sure to stay tuned.

Article Link: Base iPhone 17 Pro Could Cost $200 More But With Doubled Storage

 

[attohs]

Remember when analysts said the original iPad would be $999 but it ended up being $499? 🤷‍♂️

Edit: OG iPad was also going to be OLED 🤣

Sources:

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www.wired.com

iTablet Gains OLED Display, Delayed Until Late 2010

If an unannounced product exists solely in the minds of speculative journalists and know-nothing analysts, can it be “delayed”? If so, then the fabled Apple tablet has just seen a setback to its non-existent launch date, pushing it to the second half of 2010. The source? Component manufacturers...

www.wired.com

The iPad's Price: Unbelievable? Attractive? Still Too High?

"Apple's 9.7-inch OLED tablet PC is expected to have a cost of about $1,500-1,700, the report explains, adding that OLED panels are pretty expensive and suggesting prices should only fall in time."--9to5Mac.com, 11/19/2009 "As the world waits with bated breath for an Apple tablet, one thing is for

technologizer.com

Apple introduces new $499 iPad tablet computer | ABC7 San Francisco | abc7news.com

 

[MacUserFella]

Please Apple no more price increases, will we ever see a price decrease?

 

[Stiille]

I don’t think that this huge price hike will happen. 5 days to go to see who was right

 

[SkimPappa]

Well I thought I would be buying the new phone. At those prices my iPhone 13 seems fine

 

[Pezimak]

More fool me, commented before reading the article, so I have deleted my original post because this is all BS. It is nothing more then a pure ‘prediction’ and ‘opinion’ by some random marketing analysts. NO leaks or anything just pure personal opinion.
A worthless story really.

 

[nwilton]

We really need to have price guides for other countries.
The tariff situation this year id likely to affect US prices, but what about other countries?

 

[neuropsychguy]

These prices are unlikely. The $999 price point is an important one from a psychological perspective so it's likely at least one of the models will start there, maybe the Air.

Edit: Prices could go up more than expected though because of tariffs and changes in the value of the U.S. dollar. iPhones are exempt from tariffs, but that doesn't mean Apple's prices were not affected by them in other ways.

 

[diego.caraballo]

Classic PR move.
Feed the fake news about $200 price increase, people go nuts, then the hike is "just" $100 and people are now happy and forget

 

[abatabia]

If true I’ll go with regular 17, which is what I wanted to do anyway as the pro design I find to to be quite hideous. 17 is more than enough for my cat pics anyway.

 

[Happy_John]

Please Apple no more price increases, will we ever see a price decrease?
View attachment 2543399

Very unlikely. There's this thing called "inflation" which means your money tends to lose value over time. If Apple doesn't increase its prices, then, in real terms, their selling price is lower.

Prices don't go down unless it is a strategic adjustment. The best you can hope for is that prices don't increase, or don't increase by that much.

"New tech" is different to "mature tech", in that new tech can reduce its prices once 1) R&D costs are recouped and 2) economies of scale significantly reduces the cost of components for the new tech.

But once that tech is mature, the prices start to slowly creep up again.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I said this al along. They'll increase the storage along with the price and sell it this way "you get more so you pay more"

 

[Reeneman]

Please Apple no more price increases, will we ever see a price decrease?
View attachment 2543399

No more. This is how economy works. All the numbers are constantly getting higher.

 

[Happy_John]

I said this al along. They'll increase the storage along with the price and sell it this way "you get more so you pay more"

Yep, it's a fancier version of "Buy one get one free" - BOGOF makes customers feel like they're getting a discount, but they're still handing over the same amount of money.

 

[Reeneman]

Classic PR move.
Feed the fake news about $200 price increase, people go nuts, then the hike is "just" $100 and people are now happy and forget

September 9th will tell us

 

[xxFoxtail]

I think even if I wanted to upgrade this year, I’ll be priced out of the Pro and Air models.

 

[UliBaer]

That will be interesting! 🍿

 

[Devyn89]

This seems unlikely to me but if it happens I’ll feel better knowing my 15 Pro Max is doing well and still protected by Apple Care until January.

 

[Moreplease]

I fully expected a US price increase.

It doesn’t compute for the price to stay at $999 – where it’s been for many years despite inflation – just as Apple finally doubles storage to 256 GB and boosts RAM to 12 GB, in the face of a plummeting US dollar and new tariffs.

Something’s gotta give.

But the big question is Europe prices.

The Pro had already blown through the psychologically pleasant €999 there. And Europeans should be less affected by the falling USD and tariffs. But will Apple try to spread around the pain? It would be wildly unfair but totally possible.

 

[Moreplease]

Classic PR move.
Feed the fake news about $200 price increase, people go nuts, then the hike is "just" $100 and people are now happy and forget

Wishful thinking. I’d bet $200 you’re wrong.

 

[Happy_John]

I fully expected a US price increase.

It doesn’t compute for the price to stay at $999 – where it’s been for many years despite inflation – just as Apple finally doubles storage to 256 GB and boosts RAM to 12 GB, in the face of a plummeting US dollar and new tariffs.

Something’s gotta give.

But the big question is Europe prices.

The Pro had already blown through the psychologically pleasant €999 there. And Europeans should be less affected by the falling USD and tariffs. But will Apple try to spread around the pain? It would be wildly unfair but totally possible.

European prices will increase in step with US pricing. That's always the way with Apple, and European price increases will subside the falling dollar and tarrif costs. It won't just be US customers that the extra cost to Apple will be passed on to.

 

[ErneX]

I always get the Pro 256GB anyway, so hopefully it’ll similar.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Let’s see what we get in Europe

 

[ttyRazor]

They’ve pulled this move before with the Pro Max, dropping the smallest storage tier to increase the base price, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

My guess is everything in this report is $100 more than it should be; putting the Air at an even $1000 fills that important ‘premium’ price slot, allowing them to nudge the Pro up higher with more of their margin boosting overpriced storage.

 

[Moreplease]

European prices will increase in step with US pricing.

I’m sure European prices will go up for the base Pro, but by as great a percentage as the US price (20%)? I sure hope not.

Currently the base 16 Pro is €1229 (with tax) here versus $999 in the US (excluding tax).

A 20% increase as in the US would take us to €1475. Can’t see that happening. €1299 seems reasonable.