Apple hikes price of older iPhones, now more expensive than at launch - mashable.com
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17, 17e, and Air are now more expensive than they were at launch. Apple's iPhone 17 launched at $799 last September, but its price has now been increased to $899. Finally, the iPhone Air launched at $999 alongside the iPhone 17, but will now cost buyers $1,099.
Apple has raised the prices of its iPhone 16, 17, 17e, and Air, quietly making the changes to coincide with its announcement of the new iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and foldable Duo. Some of them are now even more expensive than they were at launch.
Historically, the release of a new iPhone has been accompanied by a price cut on older models, making the devices more attractive to savvy shoppers. Unfortunately, it seems as though their patience has instead been punished this year, with multiple past iPhones getting a $100 bump in price instead.
The iPhone 16 had been available for $699 before Apple's event on Wednesday, having received a $100 price cut when the iPhone 17 was released last year. That reduction has now been reversed, putting the iPhone 16 back up to $799 — the same price it was when it launched two years ago in 2024.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17, 17e, and Air are now more expensive than they were at launch. The budget iPhone 17e was originally available for $599 when it was announced in March this year, but it will now set you back $699. Apple's iPhone 17 launched at $799 last September, but its price has now been increased to $899. Finally, the iPhone Air launched at $999 alongside the iPhone 17, but will now cost buyers $1,099.
If the $1,999 iPhone Duo isn’t in your budget, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts on previous-generation iPhones and Android devices.
Get the iPhone 17 for $0 down at T-Mobile
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE + $200 Amazon Gift Card — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)
Google Pixel 11 Pro — $1,019.70 $1,099 (save $79.30)
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,049.99 $1,299.99 (save $250)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — $1,649.99 $1,899.99 (save $250)
To top it off, the newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are also $100 more expensive than last year's 17 Pro and Pro Max at launch, starting at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.
Some commentators had expected Apple to launch the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,099, absorbing higher manufacturing costs to keep it in line with the iPhone 17 Pro's pricing. It was a reasonable conclusion to draw considering Apple's past pricing trends. However, it seems the tech giant isn't prepared to reduce its profit margin quite that much this year. (Apple's recent Q3 2026 results reported a net quarterly profit of $29.8 billion, with net iPhone sales having increased 22 percent to $54.25 billion.)
While unwelcome, Apple's price hikes aren't a complete surprise. The AI boom has significantly increased demand for memory chips, driving up manufacturing costs as tech companies compete for limited supplies. In June, Apple's former CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal that though the company was trying to "mitigate" the impact on customers, "price increases are unavoidable."
Bloomberg subsequently reported last month that Apple was preparing to raise the prices of its iPhones, having already done so for other products such as the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio.
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Amanda Yeo is an Assistant Editor at Mashable, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. Based in Australia, she writes about everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets.