If 2025 is the yr of something, it’s the yr of the tariff. Ever since President Trump unleashed his “Liberation Day” tariffs on the world in April, client confidence has slumped, companies have laid off employees, and financial uncertainty has risen sharply.
However financial uncertainty isn’t the one factor rising. Costs of client items, particularly these manufactured in a number of the highest-tariffed international locations, together with China, Vietnam, and India, are up, or are prone to be earlier than the tip of the yr. And that’s dangerous information for iPhone followers as a result of Apple manufactures a majority of its hottest units—or no less than the parts that go into them—in these international locations.
Will the brand new iPhone 17 fashions that Apple is on observe to debut subsequent month price extra as a result of Trump’s tariffs? Sadly, the reply is probably going an enormous “yep”—although some uncertainty stays. Primarily based on what we all know as we speak, right here’s how a lot you could possibly be paying in your subsequent iPhone 17.
How a lot might a tariffed iPhone 17 price?
It’s necessary to notice that simply because there’s a 30%, 40%, and even 50% tariff on items from choose international locations, it doesn’t imply that client gadgets shipped in from these international locations will routinely be 30%, 40%, or 50% costlier. It is because giant firms typically have some leverage in decreasing the affect of tariffs on their backside strains. Sure, they will, and infrequently will, move a number of the tariff prices onto their prospects. However they will additionally scale back some tariff prices in different methods.
I’ve beforehand written about how Apple is probably going to do that, together with by pressuring its suppliers in tariff-affected international locations to soak up a number of the prices themselves (by reducing the charges they cost Apple). Why would the suppliers comply with it? Apple is one in all their greatest prospects and is prone to stay so lengthy after Trump leaves workplace. Due to this fact, it’s higher to maintain Apple comfortable by taking a short-term monetary hit.
But it’s nonetheless very possible that Apple may also elevate costs on shoppers for its iPhone 17 household this yr. By how a lot? Properly, that depends upon which of two possible situations play out.
First, right here’s what shoppers in america at the moment pay for the bottom storage mannequin of iPhone 16:
- iPhone 16 (128GB): $799
- iPhone 16 Plus (128GB): $899
- iPhone 16 Professional (128GB): $999
- iPhone 16 Professional Max (256GB): $1199
And listed below are the 2 methods it’d go.
Doable state of affairs #1:
This state of affairs is floated by Jefferies analyst Edison Lee (through 9to5Mac), who expects that Apple will elevate the worth of most iPhone 17 fashions by $50. The entry-level iPhone 17 could be spared a value enhance, whereas the opposite fashions would all see a $50 bump. If that’s correct, then these are the beginning costs that you just’ll be paying for the iPhone 17 household subsequent month:
- iPhone 17 (128GB): $849
- iPhone 17 Air/Slim (128GB): $949
- iPhone 17 Professional (256GB): $1,049
- iPhone 17 Professional Max (256GB): $1,249
Doable state of affairs #2
Nevertheless, there’s an alternate state of affairs making the rounds, too. On this one, Apple will preserve the “common” iPhone 17 fashions on the similar value as their iPhone 16 counterparts, and solely elevate the costs of its Professional fashions. If that is correct, then right here’s what you may anticipate to pay for the iPhone 17 household subsequent month:
- iPhone 17 (128GB): $799
- iPhone 17 Air/Slim (128GB): $899
- iPhone 17 Professional (256GB): $1,049
- iPhone 17 Professional Max (256GB): $1,249
If I had to decide on between the 2 situations, I’d predict that Apple will go for the primary state of affairs, that means that the corporate will solely spare the “common” iPhone 17 mannequin a value enhance.
Customers who purchase the iPhone Professional fashions are normally keen to spend extra for higher tech. In different phrases, these shoppers prioritize capabilities over prices. They most likely wouldn’t balk at a rise of $50 as a lot as “common” shoppers would—and Apple possible is aware of that.
A consumer often known as Immediate Digital on the Chinese social media community Weibo additionally claims that Apple will enhance the bottom storage of its iPhone 17 Professional mannequin from 128GB to 256GB. If this occurs, Apple might argue that the iPhone 17 Professional client is definitely getting extra for much less. At the moment, an iPhone 16 Professional with an choice of 256GB of storage prices $1,099—$50 greater than the 256GB iPhone 17 Professional is prone to price.
As for the brand new, supposedly “thinnest ever” iPhone, the 17 Air/Slim, which can reportedly exchange the iPhone 16 Plus, I can see Apple bumping its initially deliberate value up by $50, too. Most shoppers most likely wouldn’t even discover the worth level shift for the machine, contemplating that they may possible view the iPhone 17 Slim/Air (or no matter its closing title can be) as a brand new machine solely.
What in regards to the “finances” iPhone 17e?
You’ll discover that the “finances” iPhone 17e is absent from the lists above. It is because Apple just isn’t anticipated to introduce the iPhone 17e till subsequent Spring.
The finances iPhone 16e solely got here out in February, and it appears cheap to imagine that its value will possible stay the identical. (Although beginning at $599, the iPhone 16e can barely be thought-about a real “finances” telephone already).
Will Apple blame iPhone 17 value hikes on Trump’s tariffs?
As for whether or not Apple will blame its iPhone 17 value rises on President Trump’s tariffs . . . don’t wager on it. Doing so would possible be tantamount to tariff suicide for the corporate. As I’ve written earlier than, Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner is among the most adept chief executives in America on the subject of coping with Trump. His good relationship with and dealing with of the president have helped the corporate navigate extraordinarily tough financial waters.
If Apple have been now to outright blame its iPhone value will increase on Trump’s tariffs, it might possible result in—at greatest—a strained relationship with the president and, extra possible, the attainable elimination of a number of the tariff exemptions Apple and different tech giants have managed to finagle. I imply, take a look at how properly the proposed tariff price labels went for Amazon.
In different phrases, you’ll possible be paying extra for no less than some iPhone 17 fashions subsequent month. You may blame Trump if you need—however Apple gained’t.
