Just to avoid the price hikes in what seems a minor refresh for the Pro series. Also not launching the iPhone 18 or Air 2 until next year, again with price hikes. Maybe even price hikes for current gen iPhones.
Keeping my 16 Pro Max at least until the XX comes out. Typically I hold for 3 or more upgrade cycles, unless a new great bang-zoom feature comes out. When I had the 11 PM I upgraded to the 13 PM for wireless charging. I got my 16 PM when Verizon offered me a free upgrade to the 16 PM. My wife was upgrading from my old 11 PM she glommed when I got the 13 PM so she used her upgrade for a 17 PM.
I have my 16 PM dialed in and working perfectly. Battery Health is still 99% so I'm not trading that for an incremental upgrade and the chance what I get will have issues.