Price hikes expected for all except one iPhone 17 model later this year
The rest of the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to see modest price increases.
By Shawn Tan -
A price hike is expected for three of the four upcoming Apple iPhone 17 models, according to Jefferies analyst Edison Lee.
Lee claims Apple will raise the prices of the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Air by US$50 (~S$65). Based on the current starting prices of the iPhone 16 Pro lineup, these could be the new base prices for the iPhone 17 Pro models:
- iPhone 17 Pro: From S$1,664
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: From S$1,864
Lee also suggests, quite surprisingly, that the base iPhone 17 model will not see a price increase. This leaves the pricing of the iPhone 17 Air somewhat uncertain. Since the iPhone 17 Air is tipped to replace the Plus variant – and with Korean site Sisa Journal reporting that the new model will match the price points of the iPhone 16 Plus – its starting price could then be around S$1,464.
Happily, Lee’s prediction is not as bleak as earlier reports. Following the Trump administration’s announcement of tariffs on countries worldwide, research firm Rosenblatt Securities estimated that iPhone prices could spike by as much 43%. This translates to price increases that would range from S$602 to a whopping S$1,074!
The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Apple is mulling a price hike for the iPhone 17 lineup as the iPhone maker struggles to minimise the impact of US tariffs on Chinese imports, where most iPhone components are sourced from and assembled, while at the same time protecting its profit margin.
Aside from the iPhone, Macs and Apple Watches could be the next products to see price increases as US tariffs on several countries in the region will be implemented from 1 August.
Apple is rumoured to announce the iPhone 17 lineup in the week of 8 September.