Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Apple Raises Older iPhone Prices After iPhone 18 Pro Launch
Apple made some older iPhones more expensive in India after showing its newest Pro models.
The iPhone 17 now costs ₹99,900 for the 256GB version.
That is ₹17,000 more than its original price.
The iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, and iPhone 17 Air also became more expensive.
Apple did not add new features or hardware to these older models with the price increases.
Reports say memory and storage chips have become more costly because many companies need them for artificial-intelligence systems.
Apple executive Tim Cook had warned that higher component costs might reach customers.
Some buyers are now waiting for festive sales or retailer discounts before upgrading.
Apple raised the India prices of the iPhone 17, iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, and iPhone 17 Air.
The 256GB iPhone 17 now starts at ₹99,900, up ₹17,000 from its launch price.
The iPhone 17e rose by ₹15,000, while the iPhone Air increased by ₹30,000 for the affected configuration.
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max but did not launch a standard iPhone 18 model at the event.
Reports link the increases to higher memory and storage costs caused partly by demand from artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
- Who
- Apple raised prices for several iPhone models, affecting buyers in India.
- What
- Apple increased prices for the iPhone 17, iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, and iPhone 17 Air after launching its latest Pro models.
- When
- The increases followed Apple’s September 9 launch event for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Reports attribute the increases to higher memory, storage, and other manufacturing costs, partly driven by strong demand for artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
Apple’s Cost Explanation
Consumers’ Value Concerns
Reason for the price increases
Apple’s Cost Explanation
Apple has faced higher component costs, especially for memory and storage chips, and Tim Cook warned that price increases were becoming unavoidable.
Consumers’ Value Concerns
Buyers may see the increases as poor value because the older iPhones received no stated specification or hardware upgrades.
Whether to buy now
Apple’s Cost Explanation
Apple’s pricing reflects broader supply and manufacturing pressures that the company says it has tried to absorb through savings elsewhere.
Consumers’ Value Concerns
Some planned buyers, including Priyanka Ailawadi and Tanmay Verma, are reconsidering upgrades and may wait for festive sales, retailer offers, or price cuts.
Effect of a new iPhone launch
Apple’s Cost Explanation
Apple did not introduce a standard iPhone 18 model, so the iPhone 17 remains the standard non-Pro flagship in the current lineup.
Consumers’ Value Concerns
The price change challenges the usual expectation that an older iPhone will become cheaper after a new generation is introduced.
- Company
- Apple
- iPhone 17 price
- ₹99,900 for the 256GB variant, up from ₹82,900
- Other affected models
- iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, and iPhone 17 Air
- Reported increases
- The iPhone 17e rose by ₹15,000, while the iPhone Air rose by ₹30,000 for the affected configuration
- New Pro models
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Hardware changes
- The price increases were not accompanied by specification upgrades or other hardware changes to the affected older models
- Reported cost pressure
- Higher memory and storage costs, linked partly to demand from artificial-intelligence infrastructure and data centers
