How much will the iPhone 17 cost?

Despite avoiding most tariffs, Apple is predicted to increase the average price of the iPhone 17 by $50.

iPhone 16 Pro Max. Photo: Bloomberg .

After presenting US President Donald Trump with a commemorative medal made of glass and gold, Apple CEO Tim Cook was praised for his skill in maintaining a good relationship with the White House.

Wall Street analysts believe Cook largely averted the threat of tariffs by committing to an additional $100 billion in investment in the U.S. However, despite this gift to Trump, the iPhone 17 series, expected to launch next week, still risks price increases.

"Many people are still questioning whether the iPhone will increase in price," said Jeff Fieldhack, Director of Research at Counterpoint Research .

The new iPhone could be $50 more expensive.

While smartphone prices haven't increased significantly yet, this has happened with many consumer goods such as clothing, shoes, and coffee. Tariffs have also affected some electronic devices, including gaming consoles, with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all raising product prices.

Speaking to CNBC , analysts believe Apple will continue this trend. Specifically, analyst Edison Lee from Jefferies predicts the average price of the iPhone 17 will increase by $50 .

Similarly, Goldman Sachs' analysis team suggests that the price increase could raise the average price of Apple products over time, including smartphones.

Tim Cook during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in early August. Photo: New York Times .

Apple is expected to launch four iPhone 17 models next week. Last year, the company unveiled the standard iPhone 16 at $830 , the iPhone 16 Plus at $900 , the iPhone 16 Pro at $1,000 , and the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,200 .

This year, analysts predict Apple will discontinue the Plus model, which has low sales compared to the other models. The new product is expected to have a slim and lightweight design, but at the cost of a lower camera and some other features.

"A thinner, lighter design could attract a certain amount of demand," analysts from Goldman Sachs said. However, sacrificing certain features like battery life could make the ultra-thin model less competitive with cheaper alternatives.

The ultra-thin iPhone is predicted to cost around $900 , similar to the iPhone 16 Plus. However, experts do not rule out the possibility that the device will be more expensive. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge launched earlier this year at $1,100 .

It's time for Apple to pass the costs on to the users.

When President Trump announced tariffs on numerous countries, Apple was one of the companies under the most scrutiny. The company manufactures most iPhones and other products in China, and the president's tariffs could double its production costs.

Even after six months, Apple's avoidance of tariffs still surprises many. The US government has temporarily suspended most tariffs on China, while smartphones have remained tax-exempt since May.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge boasts an ultra-slim design. Photo: The Verge .

At the time, Cook stated that he would rearrange the supply chain to increase iPhone imports from India, a country with lower tariffs.

Cook also leveraged his relationship with Trump by visiting the White House, even offering gifts to secure a strategic commitment to increase investment in the US. In return, Trump announced a semiconductor tariff exemption for Apple.

On August 29, a US court ruled that most of Trump's import tariffs were illegal, even though they remained in effect.

Apple, of course, is not immune to the consequences. Cook said the company's expenses increased by $800 million in the second quarter, mainly due to import tariffs from China. This figure represents less than 4% of profits, but Apple forecasts that tariff costs for the current quarter could reach $1.1 billion .

Analysts believe that after months of incurring tariffs, Apple may pass some of the costs on to consumers when it launches the iPhone 17 on September 9th.

Cautious strategy

Apple has a history of being cautious when pricing its products. For example, the smaller-screen iPhone Pro has consistently cost $1,000 since 2017.

However, the company did make some adjustments, with the standard version increasing from $700 to $830 in 2020. When the iPhone mini was discontinued and replaced with the Plus model in 2022, the device also became more expensive ( $900 compared to $700 ). The Pro Max model also increased in price in 2023, from $1,100 to $1,200 .

If the iPhone 17 price increases, analysts believe the reason is not solely due to tariffs. According to IDC , the average price of smartphones worldwide tends to rise, driven by the increased cost of certain components such as cameras and chips in recent years.

Apple is likely to highlight the new features on the iPhone 17 and only quietly increase the price. Analysts predict the new smartphone line will have a larger screen, increased memory, and a more powerful processor.

"No one will say outright that the price increase is due to tariffs," said IDC analyst Nabila Popal.

Rendered iPhone 17 Pro Max images based on rumors. Image: MacRumors .

Apple could subtly raise iPhone prices by eliminating lower-capacity versions, forcing users to choose higher-capacity models with a higher starting price. Currently, the 128GB and 256GB iPhone models differ in price by $100 .

Analysts from JP Morgan predict Apple will keep the price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max unchanged. With the iPhone 17 Pro, the company may eliminate the 128GB version, making the 256GB model the base model priced at $1,100 . Apple previously employed a similar strategy with the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023.

"Given Apple's recent investment announcements in the US, we anticipate a slight price adjustment for the iPhone 17, aside from changes related to the base storage capacity of the Pro line, assuming the company still avoids most tariffs," said analyst Samik Chatterjee from JP Morgan.

During the May earnings report, CEO Tim Cook emphasized that there was "nothing to say" when asked about the possibility of an iPhone price increase.

"I was just saying that the operations team had done a fantastic job around optimizing the supply chain and inventory," Cook said at the time.

Source: https://znews.vn/iphone-17-co-the-dat-len-post1582699.html