TL; DR
- While the baseline iPhone 17 might not be accompanied by a revised price tag (primarily due to lack of new features, hardware, or any significant additions), the iPhone 17 Air could be around $50 more expensive than the iPhone 16 Plus.
- The iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be around $50 to $100 more expensive than the current Pro models. Apple could attribute this to the use of new hardware in the handsets.
With the iPhone 17 series expected to launch on September 9, 2025, fans and enthusiasts are excited about what Apple has in store for us. Over the past few months, we’ve been tracking all the updates related to the upcoming iPhones, breaking them down in the form of extensive roundups, news articles, and speculative opinion pieces for you.
However, today, we’ll focus exclusively on prices, trying to answer questions like how much the baseline iPhone 17 could cost, or whether the iPhone 17 Pro models will get more expensive this year. So, without any further ado, let’s dive right into it.
Also Read: iPhone 17 Air Roundup: 5.5mm Chassis, ProMotion Display, A19 Chip, C1 Modem & Everything Else
iPhone 17 & iPhone 17 Air Price (Expected)
First, let’s talk about the non-Pro models, the ones that usually have an affordable price tag (and hence, appeal to a larger customer base).
This year, Apple is expected to replace the ‘Plus’ model with an ‘Air’ model, with an exceptionally thin and lightweight chassis.
While the baseline iPhone 17 might not be accompanied by a revised price tag (primarily due to lack of new features, hardware, or any significant additions), the iPhone 17 Air could be around $50 more expensive than the iPhone 16 Plus.
| American Pricing | Retail Price | Expected Price | Approximate Hike | |
| iPhone 16 (128GB) | $799 | iPhone 17 (128GB) | $799 | N.A. |
| iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) | $899 | iPhone 17 Air (128GB) | $949 | ~$50 |
| Indian Pricing | ||||
| iPhone 16 (128GB) | Rs. 79,900 | iPhone 17 (128GB) | Rs. 79,900 | |
| iPhone 16 Plus (128GB) | Rs. 89,900 | iPhone 17 Air (128GB) | Rs. 94,900 | ~Rs. 5,000 |
The $50 price hike for the iPhone 17 Air could be attributed to the new form factor, the cost of research and development that might have gone into it, and placing the product as a premium offering. It’s worth mentioning here that the expected price undercuts the retail price of the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Also Read: iPhone 17 Roundup: 24MP Front Camera, A19/A19 Pro Chip, 12GB RAM (On Pro Variants), And More
iPhone 17 Pro & iPhone 17 Pro Max Price (Expected)
The iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be around $50 to $100 more expensive than the current Pro models. Apple could attribute this to the use of new hardware in the handsets (including the A19 Pro processor, the upgraded 12GB RAM, a new telephoto camera lens, a new chassis design, etc.).
While the baseline iPhone 16 Pro Max already ships with 256GB of storage, the iPhone 16 Pro sticks with 128GB. This could change with the iPhone 17 Pro, which might come out with 256GB of base storage, further justifying the hike in price.
| American Pricing | Retail Price | Expected Price | Approximate Hike | |
| iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) | $999 | iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) | $1,049 to $1,099 | $50 – $100 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) | $1,199 | iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) | $1,249 to $1,299 | $50 – $100 |
| Indian Pricing | ||||
| iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) | Rs. 1,19,900 | iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) | Rs. 1,29,900 | Rs. 10,000 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) | Rs. 1,44,900 | iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) | Rs. 1,54,900 | Rs. 10,000 |
Please note that I have simplified the expected prices in the table for your understanding. The actual iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro pricing could be within a range of Rs. 5,000 to 10,000 (depending on the prevalent situations at the time of launch). In any case, the fact that Apple is moving a significant portion of the assembly line to India could benefit the Indian consumers (in terms of pricing).
iPhone 17 Series Price And The Uncertainties Around It
- Tariffs: Currently, Trump’s administration has exempted smartphones (temporarily) from the import tariffs levied on India, implying that Apple doesn’t have to bear any additional costs on the Indian-origin iPhones, which, by the way, is Apple’s primary source for retail channels in the United States. However, the same isn’t true for iPhones manufactured in China.
- Rising Component & Manufacturing Cost: Advanced chip manufacturing nodes like 3nm and 4nm often increase the price of manufacturing the iPhones. This factor applies to all the iPhones, but specifically to the Pro models, which are expected to come with the A19 Pro chipset.
- Feature & Design Upgrades: The inclusion of 256GB on the baseline iPhone 17 Pro, new camera systems, enhanced AI capabilities, and other factors could also lead to a rise in the prices of the iPhones.
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