Apple May Raise iPhone 18 Pro Prices by $200 as Split Launch Delays Base Models

Q: Could buying an iPhone 17 right now actually save you hundreds before Apple's unprecedented September price hikes destroy your trade-in value?

Yes — for many upgraders, buying an iPhone 17 now could realistically save hundreds overall. The math is straightforward. Multiple analyst reports now point to iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max prices rising by about $100 to $200, with some forecasts putting them at roughly $1,249–$1,299 and $1,349–$1,399. Apple has already raised prices on some devices and in some markets, and executives and analysts have tied broader increases to surging memory and storage costs. If those forecasts hold, waiting for September likely means paying materially more for the next comparable Pro phone. At the same time, your current iPhone is likely to be worth less after the September launch. Trade-in and resale values usually weaken once a new generation is announced. Recent Apple trade-in values show meaningful credits are still available now — for example, up to $460 for an iPhone 16, $560 for a 16 Pro and $695 for a 16 Pro Max through Apple’s program. If those values slip after the iPhone 18 reveal, the buyer gets hit twice: a higher new-phone price and a lower offset from the old one. The case for waiting is also weaker than usual because Apple is reportedly splitting the launch. The lower-priced standard iPhone 18 may not arrive until spring 2027, and reports suggest it could also see spec compromises. Meanwhile, several headline iPhone 18 Pro and foldable upgrades remain unconfirmed. For owners of an iPhone 16 or older, the iPhone 17 looks like the safer value play right now.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jul 23

$1,299 and $1,399 starting prices are being tipped for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, making the current iPhone 17 lineup look like the safer buy for upgraders.
Rising memory and storage costs are cited for the expected $200 increase, while Apple's first foldable could debut above $2,000 and only Pro models are expected this September.
Spring 2027 is the reported target for the regular iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, extending the wait for buyers who want a standard model.
Leakers also say the base iPhone 18 could trim display and chip specs to control costs, while some rumored Pro and foldable upgrades still appear uncertain.
Trade-in values on older iPhones typically fall after a launch, so waiting could mean paying more for a new model while getting less for the old one.