Apple is probably preparing significant changes in the pricing policy of the upcoming iPhone 17 line. According to Chinese insider Instant Digital, the iPhone 17 Pro model will start with 256 GB of internal storage instead of last year’s 128 GB, and the minimum price will increase to about $1,049, which is $50 more expensive than the iPhone 16 Pro.
This is a repeat of the approach Apple took in 2023 with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, when the 128GB base version was removed and the starting price increased. This change may look like a better deal, as users will get twice as much storage for a relatively small extra charge.
According to leaks, the entire iPhone 17 line will receive an update:
- iPhone 17 – 6.3″ OLED display 120 Hz, A19 chip, 8 GB of RAM, 48 megapixel camera, 3,600 mAh battery, price from $799.
- iPhone 17 Air – 6.6″ ProMotion OLED, Always-On, titanium body, A19 Pro, 12 GB of RAM, Apple C1 modem, 2,900 mAh battery, price from $949.
- iPhone 17 Pro – 6.3″ ProMotion OLED with anti-reflective coating, 8x optical zoom, 8K video, A19 Pro, 12 GB of RAM, Vapor chamber cooling, 3,600 mAh+ battery, price from $1,049.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max – 6.9″ display, the same cameras as the Pro, a battery of about 5,000 mAh, price from $1,249.
Sources, including Jefferies and The Wall Street Journal, report that the price increase is due to rising component costs and China-related tariffs. Instant Digital, which has previously accurately predicted a number of Apple releases, has repeated this information three times in recent weeks.
Apple has not yet officially confirmed these changes, but the iPhone 17 is expected to be unveiled on September 9, 2025, and launch on September 19.