Will iPhone 17 Pro Start at 256GB Storage?

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 17 Pro could start with 256GB of storage as part of a $50 price increase across the lineup this year, a Weibo leaker has suggested.

In a new post, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" reiterated rumors that the iPhone 17 lineup will be announced on Tuesday, September 9 with a $50 price hike across the board, and pondered whether the increase could come hand-in-hand with a storage bump.

Today, the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16 Pro start with 128GB of storage, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts with 256GB of storage. The four models are priced starting at $799, $899, $999, and $1,199, respectively.

In July, Jefferies said that Apple will implement a $50 price increase across the iPhone 17 lineup to offset rising component costs and China tariffs. This means the iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max will likely be priced at $849, $949, $1,049, and $1,249, if the company's positioning and pricing trends continue.

It's possible that Apple could increase the iPhone 17 Pro's base storage to 256GB, bringing it in line with the Pro Max, to help justify its $50 price increase. That would represent an effective price cut of $50 over today's iPhone 16 Pro with 256GB of storage and help to simplify the lineup.

Likewise, The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Apple was considering raising prices for its upcoming iPhone 17 models. The company reportedly aims to pair the potential price hikes with new features and design changes to justify the increased cost to consumers, rather than attributing them to tariffs.

Article Link: Will iPhone 17 Pro Start at 256GB Storage?

 

[Premium1]

No reason for it not to. You want to push the "pro" name and higher price, actually make it "pro"

 

[Justin Cymbal]

In a new post, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" reiterated rumors that the iPhone 17 lineup will be announced on Tuesday, September 9 with a $50 price hike across the board, and pondered about if the increase could come hand-in-hand with a storage bump

256 GB of storage for the base model would be perfect - would go along with what the iPad Pro currently starts at (256gb as well)

A $50 price increase would be the first time that it would be only $50 - as in the past price increases, have always been at least $100 as far as I’m aware of - so $50 would be much better than what it previously has been (in years past)

 

[EugW]

Will they actually dispense with the US$999 iPhone Pro starting price though?

They doubled the memory to 16 GB with the M4 Mac mini with the same US$599 entry point. Later they increased upgrade pricing, but kept the base pricing the same at US$599 retail (and less for edu).

 

[roncron]

If the price hike comes with a storage bump, it’s not really a price hike. It’s a forced upgrade.

I always upgrade to 256gb anyway, so doesn’t really affect me.

But then, all this is speculation.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Ridiculous. The base models should have 1 TB or include a MicroSD slot.

 

[jz0309]

Well soon enough find out...
I had opted for 512GB on my 13PM but have recently done some cleanup of some video files and if I upgrade to the 17PM i will go for 256...

 

[Lwii2boo]

I hope they stop their €250 extra for going to 256 to 512 and 512 to 1tb. Going from 256gb to 1Tb is an extra €500 for any iphone in the 16 series. We are in 2025 ffs those prices are just wrong, stop it Timmy

I feel like they want to push hard their iCloud+ subscriptions to "lock" average consumers long term and scam power users/enthusiasts on those infinite margin storage upgrades.

 

[jz0309]

Ridiculous. The base models should have 1 TB or include a MicroSD slot.

Yea, and for the 2TB version you should get a $200 gift card...

 

[EugW]

My overly optimistic hope is they will keep the 17 Pro at $999 but will make it 256 GB, and will reduce Pro Max pricing to match, at $1099 256 GB.

We can dream… 🤪

 

[HouseLannister]

Offset China tariffs? You mean India tariffs, right?

 

[Matthew.H]

Would prefer them to keep the Max at £1199 as that's the model I'll likely buy but probably not going to happen

 

[jz0309]

My overly optimistic hope is they will keep the 17 Pro at $999 but will make it 256 GB, and will reduce Pro Max pricing to match, at $1099 256 GB.

We can dream… 🤪

I support that wholeheartedly ...
And I know it won't happen

 

[OliOliOliOli]

The only question to ask is:
why make a rectangular bump and let the 3 cameras stick out,
just to lose all stability!

We were so close to having a stable phone!

 

[Premium1]

Will they actually dispense with the US$999 iPhone Pro starting price though?

They doubled the memory to 16 GB with the M4 Mac mini with the same US$599 entry point. Later they increased upgrade pricing, but kept the base pricing the same at US$599 retail (and less for edu).

I could see them positioning the super gimped air in the $999 slot (which is madness for what you get and should be at most $799) and use that to boost the pro line to $1049+.

 

[ChrisChaval]

good

hopefully, 512gb base storage on Macs is finally coming

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

If the price hike comes with a storage bump, it’s not really a price hike. It’s a forced upgrade.

I always upgrade to 256gb anyway, so doesn’t really affect me.

But then, all this is speculation.

Not everyone takes 256, in fact I believe most people buy the base model

More storage costs them Pennies, literally cents . By increasing the price but giving it more storage, it still is a price hike, it's what they did with the max

Besides at some point you need to upgrade the base to something more in line with modern requirements .

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

good

hopefully, 512gb base storage on Macs is finally coming

I sure hope so

 

[UliBaer]

Will iPhone 17 Pro Start at 256GB Storage?​

Well, at least it should!

 

[t0rqx]

Read the fineprint if they do: 256GB models wont be able to record in 8K and dual cam simultaneously.

 

[dustin_]

If the price hike comes with a storage bump, it’s not really a price hike. It’s a forced upgrade.

I always upgrade to 256gb anyway, so doesn’t really affect me.

it would mean your device is $50 cheaper than it was before.

 

[ignatius345]

I'm finding 256 is a really good size for keeping a lot of music saved offline and just generally not having to sweat storage management so much.

 

[lusty]

256 GB of storage for the base model would be perfect

In 2025 512GB ought to be the minimum. Thinking 256GB is acceptable on the pro can only be down to emgetting brow beaten by Apple for years and told storage is expensive. Storage costs peanuts in 2025, and we should expect more.

 

[jntdroid]

If they blame a $50 price increase on doubling the storage in the base Pro model, then they'll be admitting their $100 increases per storage tier are absurd and their entire pricing structure will collapse...

Ok a little dramatic there, but you get the point.

 

[MrRom92]

I don’t care where the storage tiers start, I care where they end. We need a 2TB model already