iPhone 17 Price Hike on Horizon, Analysts Predict

Anticipated $50 Increase to Offset Rising Costs

Consumers may face a higher price tag for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 series, with industry analysts forecasting an approximate $50 increase per device. This adjustment is reportedly to counterbalance escalating production expenses and potential Chinese customs duties.

Analysts Eye Strong Demand Despite Cost Concerns

Jefferies analyst **Edison Lee** anticipates that all models in the iPhone 17 lineup, including the standard iPhone 17, the rumored iPhone 17 Air (potentially replacing the Plus model), and the iPhone 17 Pro MAX, will see a price bump. This projected increase mirrors the current pricing structure, which sees the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,199.

“$AAPL – IPHONE 18 PRICE HIKE EXPECTED: JEFFERIES

Jefferies analyst Edison Lee maintained a Hold rating and $188.32 price target on Apple. He noted strong iPhone demand in Q2 2025, with U.S. telcos reporting ~22% growth in equipment sales — the highest in six quarters. This…”

— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone)

Apple’s financial outlook remains robust, according to analysts, who point to strong iPhone sales figures from U.S. telecommunications companies. In the second quarter of 2025, equipment sales saw a significant 22% year-over-year growth, marking the highest quarterly expansion in six periods.

Strategic Pricing Aligns with New Features

The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Apple is exploring the pricing strategy for the iPhone 17. The company is reportedly aiming to align price increases with the introduction of new features and design enhancements. This approach seeks to ensure that the cost adjustments are perceived by consumers as commensurate with the added value, rather than solely due to external factors like U.S. customs taxes on goods manufactured in China.

As of August 2025, the semiconductor industry has seen continued supply chain cost fluctuations. For instance, the average selling price for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) DRAM, crucial for AI accelerators, increased by over 10% in the first half of 2025, reflecting broader industry cost pressures (TrendForce, July 2025).

Industry watchers will be closely observing Apple’s official announcement regarding the iPhone 17 series, expected later this year, to confirm these pricing rumors and the extent of the anticipated cost adjustments.