Apple is anticipated to unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, with speculation about the new lineup already making headlines. Recently, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee provided a detailed investor note shedding light on the pricing strategy for the iPhone 17 family. Reports suggest that Apple is considering increasing prices for these devices, driven by rising component costs and ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China. The base model, the iPhone 17, is expected to be released at a price similar to that of the iPhone 16.
Price Increases Likely for iPhone 17 Slim, Pro, and Pro Max Models
In his analysis, Edison Lee indicated that Apple might hike prices for the iPhone 17 lineup by approximately $50 (around Rs. 4,000) compared to the iPhone 16 series. Should this prediction hold true, the iPhone 17 Pro could debut at $1,049 (approximately Rs. 91,000), up from the $999 (approximately Rs. 87,000) starting price of the iPhone 16 Pro. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max might carry a price tag of $1,249 (around Rs. 1,09,000), versus the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s $1,199 (around Rs. 1,00,700).
$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) July 30, 2025
Expected to replace the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 17 Air might launch at a starting price of $949 (roughly Rs. 83,000). In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus debuted at $899 (approximately Rs. 75,500).
Lee also predicted that the iPhone 17 will likely retain the same launch price as its predecessor, suggesting an introductory price of $799 (about Rs. 67,100) for this model.
Apple aims to increase prices for the iPhone 17 Slim, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max to compensate for the escalating component costs and tariffs associated with China. Notably, potential tariffs from India and other sectors have not yet been factored into the pricing considerations.
The iPhone 17 series is reportedly set to be officially launched between September 8 and September 12. Both the base iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air are expected to be powered by the Apple A19 chip, while the Pro models may feature the enhanced A19 Pro chip.
Rumors indicate that Apple plans to integrate 8GB of RAM in the iPhone 17, while the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Air, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models could include 12GB of RAM. The Pro lineup is also rumored to feature a 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. Additional enhancements may include a new vapor chamber cooling system along with scratch-resistant and anti-reflective display coatings.
