Apple iPhone 16, 17, Air got $100 more expensive

If you were holding off on buying an iPhone this week, hoping last year's models would get cheaper the moment Apple announced something new, you picked the wrong year to wait.

Consumers have noticed this pattern repeat after the Cupertino-based tech giant launches new gadgets: the new iPhone releases; prices of previous models reduce. This is not going to happen anymore because now the iPhone 16 has increased its price from $799 to $799, losing the reduction of $100 from last year.

Reportedly, the iPhone 17 increased its price from $799 to $899, the iPhone 17e increased from $599 to $699, and the iPhone Air increased from $999 to $1,099, which is $100 more for devices without any improvement in their hardware.

The prices for the iPhone 18 Pro have started at $1,199, while for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the starting price was $1,299; this is $100 more compared to last year, and the foldable iPhone Duo costs $1,999.

Moreover, Apple has decided to completely stop producing its iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and postpone updates for the whole basic line to the spring of 2027.

The reason for this can be traced to a supply issue rather than an independent pricing decision. Apple’s demand for memory chips is outstripping production levels, while its former CEO Tim Cook recently told the Wall Street Journal that it would now be inevitable for them to hike their prices.

Apple has been increasing the price of its iPad Air, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio computers even before this week, but the iPhones were clearly the last remaining frontier.