August 13, 2025, 5:27 am | Read time: 3 minutes
In the U.S., Apple has kept the prices for the high-end iPhone models stable since 2017–but that might soon change. Recent information from an industry analyst seems to confirm the price increase that has been speculated for months. The reasons for this are not only technical improvements but also U.S. foreign policy.
All four iPhone 17 models could become more expensive
The current uncertainty in the global market, particularly due to the tariff policies of the second Trump administration, is causing price concerns months before the launch of the iPhone 17 series. As TECHBOOK reported, there were actual iPhone panic buys in the U.S. in early April, as many customers feared price hikes. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Apple is considering making the iPhone 17 more expensive to secure profit margins. The higher price is said to be justified by new features and a fresh design. However, it now appears that Apple could provide another good reason–at least for the iPhone 17 Pro.
Recent information from well-known industry analyst Jeff Pu seems to confirm that Apple might make the iPhone 17 series models more expensive, as reported by MacRumors. At the end of July, Jeffries analyst Edison Lee reportedly mentioned a possible price increase of 50 U.S. dollars. The frequently cited leaker Setsuna Digital also confirmed this figure in a post on Weibo. “MacRumors” also refers to other Wall Street insiders who believe the iPhone 17 could be up to 100 USD more expensive.
iPhone 17 Pro with more storage?
Apple could mitigate the increase through clever marketing–for example, by adjusting the internal storage of the Pro models in the entry configuration. Instead of 128 GB, the iPhone 17 Pro could come standard with 256 GB of storage. Apple had already eliminated the smaller version with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
In the U.S., the iPhone 17 Pro currently costs 999 USD (unchanged since the introduction of the iPhone X in 2017). The new price would thus be between 1,049 and 1,099 U.S. dollars, breaking the 1,000-USD mark for the first time. If Apple indeed eliminates the 128-GB version, a new entry price of 1,099 USD is likely–as that is currently the cost of the 256-GB version of the iPhone 16 Pro.
As Apple announced at a conference on quarterly figures in June, the company currently sources most of the iPhones sold in the U.S. from India. Outside of China, this is the only place where manufacturer Foxconn has the necessary capacity to produce the Pro models of the iPhone 16. Smartphones from China are currently subject to a punitive tariff–for India, however, Apple was able to secure an exemption.