Will the iPhone 17 Pro Really Break Apple's 8-Year Pricing Streak?

[MacRumors]

The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro might be more expensive than the iPhone 16 Pro, according to some leakers and analysts. Will it, though?

If that sounds like a familiar rumor to you, that is because it is:

• iPhone 14 Pro price increase rumor
• iPhone 15 Pro price increase rumor
• iPhone 16 Pro price increase rumor

A previously-accurate leaker on the Chinese platform Weibo claimed the smaller iPhone 17 Pro model with a 6.3-inch display will start at $1,049 in the U.S. with 256GB of storage, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage.

Apple has offered at least one Pro model or equivalent tier of the iPhone at a starting price of $999 in the U.S. since the iPhone X was released in 2017, so the iPhone 17 Pro would break an eight-year streak held by the company.

The starting prices of each model in the U.S.:

• iPhone X: $999
• iPhone XS: $999
• iPhone 11 Pro: $999
• iPhone 12 Pro: $999
• iPhone 13 Pro: $999
• iPhone 14 Pro: $999
• iPhone 15 Pro: $999
• iPhone 16 Pro: $999
• iPhone 17 Pro: $1,049?

If the iPhone 17 Pro lacks a 128GB storage tier, some might argue that this is not a price increase anyway. In fact, $1,049 would be a price decrease for the 256GB configuration. On the other hand, customers who do not want to pay more than $999 for the Pro model would lose that option. This was a hotly-debated topic when Apple dropped the 128GB tier for the Pro Max model with the iPhone 15 Pro Max a few years ago.

In any case, Apple has proven the price increase rumors wrong year after year, so it deserves the benefit of the doubt. But, nothing lasts forever. If the $999 streak finally does come to an end, you can probably blame it on a combination of tariffs and higher inflation in recent years, although Apple is unlikely to mention that.

At this point, though, it is a see-it-to-believe-it situation.

We'll find out next month.

Article Link: Will the iPhone 17 Pro Really Break Apple's 8-Year Pricing Streak?

 

[ItsGavinC]

Yep, it's a $50 price decrease (although the consumer is left without a choice for a lower amount of storage than the base 256GB). But if they can pull it off and really offer it for only $50 more for 256GB then it really is a miracle.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

There is a world outside the United States you know macrumors. In Belgium and other European countries the iPhone X-XS-11Pro-12Pro-13pro al sold for the same 1159€ launch price, the 14 Pro launched for over 1300€ (partly due to inflation in 2022, price dropped later in the cycle), the 15 Pro and 16 Pro both started from 1229€. So what 8 year streak?

 

[BeerDrinkerDan]

There is a world outside the United States you know macrumors. In Belgium and other European countries the iPhone X-XS-11Pro-12Pro-13pro al sold for the same 1159€ launch price, the 14 Pro launched for over 1300€ (partly due to inflation in 2022, price dropped later in the cycle), the 15 Pro and 16 Pro both started from 1229€. So what 8 year streak?

This again? Read the replies in the other thread where you posted this that give great reasons why sticking to $ in these articles makes sense.

-bdd

 

[jz0309]

There is a world outside the United States you know macrumors. In Belgium and other European countries the iPhone X-XS-11Pro-12Pro-13pro al sold for the same 1159€ launch price, the 14 Pro launched for over 1300€ (partly due to inflation in 2022, price dropped later in the cycle), the 15 Pro and 16 Pro both started from 1229€. So what 8 year streak?

And Apple is a US company and prices outside the US are always calculated with currency exchange rate fluctuations, European companies that export worldwide do the same thing, as do companies in other countries.
So your argument doesn’t really mean anything.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I'll take $50 every 8-10 years. Not too bad at all, really.

 

[narenh]

Given the credulity Macrumors demonstrates every year with this rumor, it makes more sense to believe that Apple “leaks” the $100 price increase just to set expectations so people are pleasantly surprised when the price doesn’t increase

 

[MrMojo1]

The question no one is asking is.. How much will the tariffs (possibly) affect the iPhone 17 models?

Apple exempt from semiconductor tariffs due to U.S. investment

Apple has secured an exemption from the Trump administration's 100% semiconductor import tariff, but it's not clear how much this will impact Apple's bottom line.

appleinsider.com

 

[TechRunner]

Apple understands the marketing psychology at play here. As strange as it sounds, people will plop down $999 without hesitation, while stopping to consider whether they should pay $1049. I could be wrong, but I think Apple stays with $999 for this round.

 

[MacKid]

They totally got this from Nibo's comment. 😂

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Apple understands the marketing psychology at play here. As strange as it sounds, people will plop down $999 without hesitation, while stopping to consider whether they should pay $1049. I could be wrong, but I think Apple stays with $999 for this round.

That's absolutely right, and everyone has their limit. Mine is $1200; there is absolutely nothing Apple could do to the iPhone to make me pay more than that.

 

[TechRunner]

That's absolutely right, and everyone has their limit. Mine is $1200; there is absolutely nothing Apple could do to the iPhone to make me pay more than that.

You and I continue to agree on that $1200 limit. I don't use my phone enough to justify any more than that.

 

[Col795]

I dare Apple to increase their prices. I triple dogg dare you, Apple!

 

[attohs]

No. Apple leaks false, higher, pricing to trigger psychological purchasing when customers find out the final product is cheaper. Remember all the leaks about the OG iPad being $999 and then it was $499? $499 sounds great when you were planning on $999.

Next iPhone is $1049? That’s not for me.
Oh it’s actually $999. Fine.
$1000 might be the easiest price point to manipulate customers around these days.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

If iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1000 for 256 GB or $1050 for 256 GB, will you post a comment saying that you were delusional for saying other people are delusional?

An iPhone is not a person.

 

[neuropsychguy]

An iPhone is not a person.

Well that's a relief! I'm glad that when I bought iPhones I wasn't really buying people.

In all seriousness, why did you feel you needed to state something obvious and what does that have to do with anything I wrote?

 

[BelgianChoklit]

T

This again? Read the replies in the other thread where you posted this that give great reasons why sticking to $ in these articles makes sense.

-bdd

Taking into account EU prices considering the many EU visitors is a only normal thing to expect.

 

[graison]

I look forward to this again article next year about the iPhone 18.

 

[mdnz]

They should make it $1150 to account for the USD valuation drop.

 

[jouster]

I'll take $50 every 8-10 years. Not too bad at all, really.

Right? Wish everything else I have to buy had stayed at the same price since the iPhone X was released.

 

[Orange Bat]

The question no one is asking is.. How much will the tariffs (possibly) affect the iPhone 17 models?

If I remember correctly Apple is largely exempt from the new tariffs.

 

[ppdix]

dude, it's just $50 more. Who cares?
🙄

 

[ppdix]

apple invested $600b in USA to avoid the tariffs and keep Donald happy.
The $50 increase is a joke compared to the 20% they could have charged extra have they not invested in the USA. Good move apple.

 

[Dave245]

So will the Pro Max remain the same price 🤔

 

[Pitogyro]

Well that's a relief! I'm glad that when I bought iPhones I wasn't really buying people.

In all seriousness, why did you feel you needed to state something obvious and what does that have to do with anything I wrote?

They were referring to the fact that for some silly marketing reason Apple never uses “the” before “iPhone” and some people have begun parroting that.