Apple may improve iPhone 17 costs with out pointing to tariffs

Abstract

Apple is reportedly contemplating elevating the costs of its iPhone 17 sequence, anticipated to launch this fall.
The corporate is apprehensive that if it raises costs it might be seen as being associated to tariffs, and an affront to the Trump Administration.
Apple is reportedly planning to pin any potential worth will increase on “new options and design adjustments” moderately than tariffs. Nonetheless, tariffs should still play a job.

Should you’re contemplating buying an iPhone 17 when it launches later this yr, be ready for it to probably price greater than you anticipate, and never simply due to tariffs.

In line with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Apple is considering elevating the value of its iPhone 17 fashions, anticipated to launch this fall. The reason being reportedly resulting from “new options and design adjustments” as a substitute of the Trump Administration’s tariffs on items from China, the place many iPhones are nonetheless manufactured.

Whereas tariffs should still play a job within the elevated price of an iPhone, Apple is reportedly involved that any potential worth improve on the iPhone 17 fashions might be seen as being associated to tariffs, and an affront to the Trump Administration. That is why Apple may play into the “new options and design adjustments” coming this yr as the explanation for the value adjustments — not Trump’s tariff and commerce agenda.

iPhone 16

This yr’s iPhone 16 line blurs the road between the “Professional” and the base-level iPhone by providing a brand new digital camera button and the Motion Button, alongside the A18 chip.

Model: Apple
SoC: A18 (3nm)
Show: 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR, 2000 nits, 60Hz
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Ports: USB-C

Associated

4 ways Apple’s transformative ‘product renaissance’ is taking shape

In 2027, vital adjustments are anticipated in Apple’s product lineup.

How a lot may the iPhone 17 go up by?

Apple may resolve to maintain costs the identical

A blue iPhone 16 against a yellow backdrop.

Pocket-lint / Apple

The WSJ’s report does not present specifics about how a lot the price of the iPhone may improve. Presently, the iPhone 16 begins at $799, the iPhone 16 Professional at $1,000, and the iPhone 16 Professional Max at $1,200. If Apple decides to implement any worth adjustments, it might want to tread rigorously to keep away from irritating customers an excessive amount of.

Whereas Apple reportedly needs to justify its worth will increase with new options and designs, tariffs should still play a job…

Whereas Apple reportedly needs to justify its worth will increase with new options and designs, tariffs should still play a job, however the scenario stays risky. Not too long ago, the US and China agreed to droop most tariffs imposed on one another whereas they bear commerce talks. Which means the Trump Administration’s reciprocal tariff on China, set at 125 %, will quickly lower to 10 %. There may be nonetheless an extra 20 % tariff imposed by the US on China earlier this yr, citing issues over fentanyl coming into the nation from China. That makes the entire US tariff on imported items from China 30 % on the time of writing.

When the iPhone 17 sequence launches this fall (presumably in September), who is aware of what the commerce scenario will probably be like, because it’s continually altering, so it is arduous to guage it primarily based on that. Theoretically, if Apple raises the value of every mannequin by $50, I may see folks being upset, however not too outraged. Nonetheless, any improve over $100 and within the $200 vary, I may see angering lots of people, and rightfully so.

Apple is barely contemplating the transfer, so it may find yourself deciding to keep up the established order for costs this yr…

When it comes to what to anticipate from the iPhone 17 sequence, Apple is predicted to launch a brand new ”

iPhone 17 Air
” mannequin, which is alleged to be an ultra-slim smartphone from the corporate, much like what Samsung is doing with the

Galaxy S25 Edge
. The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to switch the Plus mannequin in Apple’s iPhone lineup, and measure round 5.5mm thick, the thinnest iPhone ever.

The

iPhone 17 Pro
is rumored to be present process a beauty change, that includes a brand new digital camera bar design paying homage to the Google Pixel sequence. The iPhone 17 Professional can be rumored to be getting a digital camera improve, with the flexibility to

shoot in 8K
, and a

RAM upgrade
. Whether or not these adjustments, or any yet-to-be-announced shock alterations, will probably be sufficient to persuade folks to pay extra for the iPhone stays to be seen.

Apple is barely contemplating the transfer, so it may find yourself deciding to keep up the established order for costs this yr, maybe saving any worth will increase for its ”

product renaissance
” in 2027.