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iPhone 16. Photo: The Verge . |
Apple is considering raising the price of the iPhone 17, a smartphone line expected to launch in September, according to a WSJ source. The company may cite the price increase as a result of new designs and features, rather than the impact of US tariffs on goods imported from China, where most of Apple's products are assembled.
On May 11, the US and China agreed to suspend some reciprocal tariffs for 90 days. However, the 20% tariff announced by President Donald Trump at the beginning of the year will still be applied, and affected products include smartphones.
CEO Tim Cook is facing pressure related to the US-China trade conflict, threatening Apple's supply chain.
In response, Apple reportedly stockpiled inventory in March, before Trump announced tariffs, and has been shifting production to India. Cook said in early May that the majority of iPhones imported to the US in the second quarter would come from India.
Sources in the supply chain say that the high-margin models like the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are still largely manufactured in China. While the Indian factory is capable of assembling the high-end models, the infrastructure and engineering capabilities are still limited for mass production of the iPhone 17 Pro. Rumors suggest that the duo will get upgraded cameras and battery capacity.
Of the 65 million iPhones sold in the US last year, about 36-39 million were iPhone Pro and Pro Max, according to estimates from investment bank Jefferies.
Given the volatile economic climate, analysts say Apple will struggle to rely solely on suppliers to cover tariff costs, meaning the company’s profit margins could take a direct hit.
Apple executives have also been wary of using tariffs as a reason to raise prices. The White House previously accused Amazon of “hostile behavior” after rumors emerged that the company planned to announce tariff-related price increases. Amazon responded to the announcement by saying the idea was “never accepted.”
According to WSJ , the above situation forces Apple to increase iPhone prices to preserve profits, but must find reasons other than tariffs.
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iPhone 16 Pro billboard in Shanghai (China). Photo: Bloomberg . |
Traditionally, Apple launches new iPhones in September. If nothing changes, this year's iPhone lineup will be called the iPhone 17. Currently, the iPhone 16 lineup starts at $800 (base iPhone 16) and $1,200 (iPhone 16 Pro Max).
The iPhone 17 series is expected to have an extra ultra-thin version, tentatively called the iPhone 17 Air. According to Tim Cook, the tariff policy could increase Apple's costs by about $900 million this quarter, and even higher in the next period.
Apple is also considering moving some iPhone production to the U.S., but the process could take years. In the short term, the company is prioritizing moving some production from China to other countries, including India and Vietnam.
Last year, India accounted for about 13-14% of global iPhone shipments. That number could double this year, but still not enough to meet demand in the US and India, according to TechInsights analyst Abhilash Kumar.
Source: https://znews.vn/apple-chuan-bi-tang-gia-iphone-post1552893.html
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