With the bad economic times and tariffs going on in the world now, it is expected that a price hike will happen on the iPhone 17 series later in September 2025. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is reportedly going to do it, but not because of the trade policy.
From the report, the price hike is likely a response to the new features and design upgrades, rather than being affected by the tariffs. The Trump-era 20% tariff on goods from China remains in place, complicating Apple’s production and pricing strategy. While new reciprocal tariffs have temporarily dropped to 10%, smartphones remain exempt.
To the uninitiated, Apple has always maintained the starting prices for the base iPhone models for years, from the iPhone 14 to the iPhone 16. On top of that, the pro models have also consistently started at the same price. However, if Apple raises the prices of the iPhone 17, it could create a ripple effect across the phone market. This would allow Android OEMs to raise their own prices without losing their competitive edge, as the industry’s pricing bar rises in unison.
Apple has been gradually shifting some production to India recently. However, India's India’s infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities have yet to match China’s efficiency and scale. As a result, the pro models like the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will continue to be produced in China.
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