iPhone 17 Pro Price Hike: Why Apple Increased Prices After 7 Years

Apple has raised the price of its iPhone Pro for the first time in seven years with the launch of the iPhone 17 series. The starting price of the iPhone 17 Pro is $1,099 (around Rs 97,002), which is $100 (around Rs 8,826) higher than last year’s iPhone 16 Pro that started at $999 (around Rs 88,175). However, the new Pro model comes with 256GB of storage, double the 128GB offered by the iPhone 16 Pro, justifying part of the price increase.

In addition, Apple has replaced the Plus variant with the thinner iPhone Air, priced at $999 (around Rs 88,175), which is also $100 more than the previous Plus model. The company has increased entry-level storage across the lineup to enhance value for customers.

Tech analysts attribute the price hike to rising costs and operational changes. Apple reportedly faced over $1 billion in tariff expenses this quarter and is shifting production from China to India to reduce tariffs. While the Pro and Air models have become more expensive, the standard iPhone 17 remains priced at $799 (around Rs 70,522). Apple’s strategy reflects both global supply challenges and a focus on offering higher storage to users.