There are new shiny iPhones, so Apple is making you pay more for older models
News Source
β’Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:56:18 +0000
π° What Happened
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 and its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. But the company also quietly raised prices on older iPhone models by $100. The iPhone 16 now starts at $799, the iPhone 17 at $899, and the iPhone Air at $1,099.
The price jumps are even bigger in some countries. In India, prices reportedly rose by about 20.5 percent. Apple also stopped selling the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Apple usually cuts prices on old models when new ones arrive. This time it went the opposite way, and that is a big change for shoppers.
π The Backstory
One big reason for the higher prices is a global shortage of memory and storage chips. AI companies and cloud providers are building huge data centres that gobble up those parts. When parts cost more, gadgets cost more too.
In June, former Apple CEO Tim Cook warned that rising component costs could force a pricing rethink. He said Apple could no longer fully absorb the costs by itself. About a week later, Apple raised prices on its Mac and iPad lines.
π― Why It Matters
If Apple charges more for older iPhones, new phones cost more for everyone. The AI boom is even reaching ordinary shopping baskets through chip prices. Compare prices before you buy.
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 and its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. But the company also quietly raised prices on older iPhone models by $100. The iPhone 16 now starts at $799, the iPhone 17 at $899, and the iPhone Air at $1,099.
The price jumps are even bigger in some countries. In India, prices reportedly rose by about 20.5 percent. Apple also stopped selling the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Apple usually cuts prices on old models when new ones arrive. This time it went the opposite way, and that is a big change for shoppers.
One big reason for the higher prices is a global shortage of memory and storage chips. AI companies and cloud providers are building huge data centres that gobble up those parts. When parts cost more, gadgets cost more too.
In June, former Apple CEO Tim Cook warned that rising component costs could force a pricing rethink. He said Apple could no longer fully absorb the costs by itself. About a week later, Apple raised prices on its Mac and iPad lines.
If Apple charges more for older iPhones, new phones cost more for everyone. The AI boom is even reaching ordinary shopping baskets through chip prices. Compare prices before you buy.