iPhone 17 Pro Could Be Cheaper Than iPhone 16 Pro Despite Price Hike

Key Takeaways

1. Apple is likely to increase prices for certain iPhone 17 models, attributing the rise to improvements rather than tariffs.
2. The iPhone 17 series will introduce a base model, an iPhone 17 Air, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, removing the Plus model.
3. The iPhone 17 Pro may start with 256 GB of storage, which could justify a price increase of $50, making it $50 less than the 256 GB iPhone 16 Pro.
4. Most iPhone 17 models are expected to see a $50 price increase, except for the base iPhone 17, with the Air starting at $949 and the Pro Max at $1,249.
5. The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to feature camera improvements and will be available in new colors, with a potential announcement date of September 9.

Apple is poised to raise the prices of certain iPhone 17 models. Although the company probably won’t mention tariffs as the cause for this increase, they will likely attribute it to enhancements made to the new devices. A recent leak indicates that the price hike might be warranted, particularly for the Pro version. The 17 series will see the removal of the Plus model, introducing a base iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Air, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Details on Pricing and Storage

The newest insights originate from Setsuna Digital (translated by a machine) through Weibo. The source claims that the iPhone 17 Pro will start with 256 GB of storage instead of the usual 128 GB. This implies that if the base iPhone 17 Pro is expected to be $1,049, factoring in the recent speculation of a $50 price increase, it will still be $50 less than the 256 GB variant of the iPhone 16 Pro. Presently, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 for the 128 GB version, with the 256 GB variant priced at $1,099.

Implications of Storage Changes

Should Apple choose to boost the base storage option for the iPhone 17 Pro to 256 GB, the anticipated price increase might not be as burdensome for those eager to upgrade. Nevertheless, almost every model is projected to see a price rise of $50, with the exception of the base iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Air is likely to begin at $949, while the iPhone 17 Pro is expected at $1,049, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,249.

Upcoming Features and Colors

The iPhone 17 Pro, along with the rest of the range, has been the subject of numerous leaks over the last few months. It is anticipated to feature some camera enhancements like continuous zoom and a new Pro camera application. Additionally, the phone is rumored to be available in fresh color options: orange (Pantone Papaya), dark blue (Pantone Mood Indigo), and dark gray.

Although Apple hasn’t officially announced the release date for the iPhone 17 series, a recent report suggested that the devices will be revealed on September 9. Interestingly, the iPhone 16 series was launched on the same day last year.

Source:
Link