iPhone 17 price may increase sharply

The price of iPhone 17 may increase sharply this year, not only due to feature upgrades but also due to political impacts and the risk of tariffs from the US government.

Amid global economic turmoil, escalating supply chain costs and profit pressure, some analysts believe that Apple will increase the price of the iPhone 17 series. Meanwhile, Apple has yet to make a specific move regarding the pricing strategy of the next iPhone series.

To complicate matters, politics has begun to creep into trade decisions. President Donald Trump has publicly pressured Apple to bring iPhone production back to the United States, threatening to impose a 25% tariff on all foreign-made phones if the demand is not met.

This statement immediately created concerns about the possibility that iPhone prices will be affected by both rising production costs and unstable trade policies.

iPhone 17 price increase sharply?

The debate surrounding Apple's price hike for the iPhone 17 is heating up, especially after President Donald Trump's recent statement, in which he asked Apple to move iPhone production back to the US and threatened to impose a 25% tax on devices manufactured abroad.

"If they don't, Apple will have to pay at least 25% tax to the US," President Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social on May 23.

Even without taking tariffs into account, however, historical data and pure economic analysis point to the possibility of Apple raising prices for the iPhone 17 series. The company has not adjusted the price of the standard iPhone since 2020, the longest streak for the company and equivalent to the five-generation period from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 7 (2012-2016). Data from previous iPhone generations shows that on average, the company adjusts the retail price every 3-5 years.

The iPhone 17's selling price may be subject to a double impact. Photo: Bloomberg .

Since its launch in 2007, the standard iPhone models have gone through four price increases and one price decrease. For example, the iPhone 3G in 2008 increased the price by $100 compared to the first generation, while the iPhone 5 in 2012 cost $649 , more than the iPhone 4S due to the addition of a larger screen.

The biggest twist is that the iPhone 12, which launched in 2020, starts at $829 , about $130 more than the iPhone 11.

From the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 16, this price has not changed. If we follow Apple's historical cycles and pricing strategy, the standard iPhone 17 series will likely cost more, even if it is not affected by the new tax policies. In addition, the company has never kept the price of its standard smartphone models the same for more than 5 years.

Given Apple's tendency to cite "new design and features" as the reason for price adjustments, the iPhone 17 price increase this year seems to be just a matter of timing and extent.

Hidden costs from tariffs

In 2017, Apple introduced the iPhone Pro line with the introduction of the iPhone X, with a price increase to $999 . Over the past 8 years, from the iPhone X to the iPhone 16 Pro, this price has remained unchanged despite inflation and continuous technological improvements.

According to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, $999 in 2017 is equivalent to about $1,298 in 2025. This means that Apple has effectively reduced the price of the iPhone Pro in real terms after inflation. However, the iPhone 17 Pro could be the first high-end smartphone to increase in price since the product line was launched if Apple decides to adjust to production costs and market expectations.

Tariffs negative impact Apple's business operations. Photo: Bloomberg .

The iPhone Pro Max line has seen a similar trend in pricing. The 2018 iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 . By 2023, Apple will no longer offer the 128GB Pro Max at this price. Instead, users will have to pay $1,199 for the 256GB version. Although not officially increased, this starting price has forced users to pay more to experience the most advanced smartphone model.

Additionally, political and tariff impacts could exacerbate the rising trend in electronics prices this year.

“We estimate that the current tariffs could add $900 million to our operating costs,” CEO Tim Cook said.

While the exact increase is unclear, it's likely that one or more versions of the iPhone 17 lineup will cost significantly more than their predecessors, which will be consistent with both Apple's history of price adjustments and the current geopolitical climate.

Source: https://znews.vn/gia-iphone-17-co-the-tang-manh-post1566786.html