Apple may charge an extra $50 for the iPhone 17 Pro. But it could also finally increase the 128GB base storage in favor of a roomier option.
A $50 price bump means the iPhone 17 Pro will cost $1,050 in the U.S. before taxes.
Get ready to pay more for iPhone 17 Pro
Despite inflation in recent years and major hardware upgrades, Apple has kept the price of its Pro iPhone at $999 for years. The iPhone 11 Pro launched back in 2019 with a $999 price tag. However, tariffs and rising component costs might finally force the company to increase prices this year. On the bright side, the higher starting price could come with a higher base storage to negate the effect.
Chinese leaker Instant Digital says Apple will increase the iPhone 17 Pro price by $50. But this will come with a higher base storage of 256GB. This move will help the company justify the higher starting price. The leaker’s claim aligns with Jefferies analyst Edison Lee, who predicted a $50 price hike for iPhone 17 Pro and Air models back in July.
Apple already sells the Pro Max iPhones with 256GB, but keeps 128GB as the starting option on the smaller Pro model. The bump to 256GB costs an extra $100, bringing the phone’s price to $1,099 before taxes.
A price bump after years
Apple went to great lengths in recent years to avoid increasing the prices of iPhones. It stopped bundling chargers with its phones in 2020, citing environmental reasons. This also helped the company cut material costs while reducing packaging and transportation expenses, saving millions of dollars.
While Apple has secured a tariff exemption from the U.S. government for Made in India iPhones, it can’t sidestep the rising cost of components. From advanced camera sensors and OLED panels to next-generation processors, the price of key parts has steadily climbed. Add to that higher labor costs and supply chain challenges, and maintaining current iPhone pricing becomes increasingly difficult.
