Apple has increased prices across several older iPhone models by $100, breaking from its traditional post-launch pricing strategy.
The company usually reduces prices of previous-generation iPhones after introducing new models.
This year, however, several older devices have become more expensive.
The changes followed Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event, where the company introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo.
Apple reportedly linked the higher prices to rising global component and memory costs.
The increases affect both older iPhones and newly launched flagship models.
iPhone 16 Returns to $799 as iPhone 17 Hits $899
The iPhone 16 had previously been reduced to $699.
Apple has now raised its starting price back to $799, matching its original 2024 launch price.
The budget-focused iPhone 17e has also increased.
Its starting price has risen from $599 to $699.
The standard iPhone 17 now begins at $899.
Apple has also raised the iPhone Air price to $1,099.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have been removed from Apple’s current lineup.
The latest pricing changes mean buyers seeking older models will no longer benefit from the usual discounts that follow a major iPhone launch.
The move represents a significant change in Apple’s long-standing pricing approach.
New iPhone 18 Models Also Become More Expensive
Apple’s newest flagship smartphones are also carrying higher price tags.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max begins at $1,299.
Both models are priced around $100 higher than their predecessors.
Apple’s first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, has an even higher starting price.
The foldable model will begin at $1,999.
Orders for the iPhone 18 Pro series are scheduled to open on September 12.
Shipments are expected to begin on September 18.
The iPhone Duo is expected to become available in October.
Apple has already increased prices on some other product categories, including Macs and iPads.
The latest iPhone changes suggest that rising production costs are affecting a broader portion of the company’s hardware business.
AI Boom Drives Memory and Component Costs Higher
The reported price increases come as global demand for memory chips and other components continues to rise.
Artificial intelligence infrastructure has significantly increased demand for DRAM and flash memory.
That demand has placed additional pressure on global supply chains.
Higher component prices can directly affect manufacturing costs for smartphones, computers and other consumer electronics.
Apple has reportedly warned that these pressures could eventually result in higher retail prices.
The situation also has wider implications for the smartphone industry.
Analysts believe Apple’s decision could give rival manufacturers greater flexibility to increase their own prices.
Android manufacturers are facing many of the same component cost pressures.
If memory and other hardware prices remain elevated, consumers could see higher smartphone prices across multiple brands.
The shift is particularly significant because older iPhones traditionally became more affordable after new models arrived.
This strategy allowed consumers to purchase previous-generation devices at lower prices.
The latest changes reverse that pattern.
Instead of becoming cheaper after the iPhone 18 launch, several existing devices have increased in price.
That could make upgrading more expensive for customers who typically wait for a new launch before buying an older model.
Apple’s latest pricing strategy may therefore signal a broader adjustment across the technology industry as companies respond to rising component costs.
