Apple’s iPhone 17 could see a price hike, here's why

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Apple’s iPhone 17 might finally break a long-standing streak — and not in a way US buyers will celebrate. Analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities says prices are “likely” to rise compared to the iPhone 16 lineup, thanks to tariffs on products imported from assembly hubs like China and India.

Currently, the US slaps a 20% tariff on iPhones from China, but none on those shipped from India — a policy that could shift under Donald Trump’s frequently changing tariff framework. Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed last week that most US-sold iPhones now come from India, but any expansion of tariffs to cover those imports would hit Apple’s margins hard.

Wall Street chatter pegs a possible $50–$100 jump for iPhone 17 models, though those numbers are still speculation. Apple could soften the blow with marketing sleight of hand — for instance, bumping the iPhone 17 Pro’s base storage from 128GB to 256GB, matching the Pro Max’s starting point. That would make the increase look like a value upgrade rather than just a price grab.

For perspective, Apple has held the Pro model’s $999 starting tag since the iPhone X in 2017, defying years of rumoured hikes. The company’s pricing discipline has earned it rare trust among tech buyers — but history suggests even Apple can’t dodge rising costs forever.

Whether the iPhone 17’s rumoured hike materialises will depend on how the tariff landscape evolves in the next year. One thing’s certain: if it does happen, expect Apple to spin it as an upgrade, not an upcharge.