Apple has increased the prices of several existing iPhone models, making some of its year-old devices significantly more expensive than they were before the company’s latest product launch.
The revised pricing affects the iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, and iPhone 16, with buyers in India facing particularly steep increases. Instead of the price cuts that often follow the arrival of a new iPhone generation, Apple has moved in the opposite direction this time.
The change comes after Apple’s September 2026 product event and the introduction of its latest premium iPhone lineup. Apple has also removed the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max from its official lineup following the arrival of their successors.
For consumers planning to buy an older iPhone at a lower price, the new pricing structure changes the equation considerably.
Apple Increases Prices of Existing iPhones
Apple traditionally reshuffles its smartphone portfolio when a new iPhone generation arrives. Older models may remain available at lower prices, while previous Pro models are usually discontinued.
In 2026, however, Apple’s pricing strategy looks noticeably different.
Several existing devices have become more expensive despite receiving no major hardware upgrade as part of the price revision.
In the United States, the starting prices of the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air have each increased by $100.
The increases in India are considerably larger for several models and storage configurations.
New iPhone Prices in India
Indian consumers are among those most affected by Apple’s latest pricing changes.
The iPhone 17, for example, originally started at ₹82,900 for the 256GB model. Its revised starting price is ₹99,900, representing an increase of ₹17,000.
The 512GB version has also become more expensive, moving from ₹1,02,900 to ₹1,24,900.
Here is a closer look at some of the reported old and new prices:
| iPhone Model | Storage | Previous Price | New Price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | 256GB | ₹82,900 | ₹99,900 | ₹17,000 |
| iPhone 17 | 512GB | ₹1,02,900 | ₹1,24,900 | ₹22,000 |
| iPhone 17e | 256GB | ₹64,900 | ₹79,900 | ₹15,000 |
| iPhone 17e | 512GB | ₹84,900 | ₹1,04,900 | ₹20,000 |
| iPhone Air | 256GB | ₹1,19,900 | ₹1,49,900 | ₹30,000 |
| iPhone Air | 512GB | ₹1,39,900 | ₹1,74,900 | ₹35,000 |
| iPhone Air | 1TB | ₹1,59,900 | ₹2,24,900 | ₹65,000 |
| iPhone 16 | 128GB | ₹79,900 | ₹89,900 | ₹10,000 |
Apple’s current India store lists the iPhone 17 from ₹99,900, iPhone Air from ₹1,49,900, iPhone 17e from ₹79,900 and iPhone 16 from ₹89,900. Pricing can vary depending on storage configuration, offers and availability.
iPhone 17 Gets a Major Price Hike
The regular iPhone 17 is one of the most notable examples of Apple’s revised pricing strategy.
Its 256GB version previously carried a price of ₹82,900 in India. The same storage configuration is now listed at ₹99,900.
That is a ₹17,000 increase, or roughly 20.5%.
The higher-capacity 512GB model has moved from ₹1,02,900 to ₹1,24,900, making it ₹22,000 more expensive.
This is particularly significant because many buyers typically wait for Apple’s next-generation launch before purchasing the previous standard iPhone, expecting its official price to fall.
This year, that strategy may not work in the same way.
iPhone Air Becomes Significantly More Expensive
The iPhone Air has received some of the largest price increases in Apple’s existing smartphone portfolio.
Its 256GB version has moved from ₹1,19,900 to ₹1,49,900, an increase of ₹30,000.
The 512GB version is now ₹1,74,900 compared with its previous ₹1,39,900 price.
The biggest jump can be seen on the 1TB model.
Previously priced at ₹1,59,900, the 1TB iPhone Air is now priced at ₹2,24,900 in India. That is an increase of ₹65,000, or more than 40%.
Such a substantial jump pushes the highest-capacity iPhone Air much further into premium smartphone territory.
iPhone 17e Is Also More Expensive
Apple’s comparatively more affordable iPhone 17e has not escaped the increases.
The 256GB version has moved from ₹64,900 to ₹79,900, resulting in a ₹15,000 increase.
Meanwhile, the 512GB configuration has increased from ₹84,900 to approximately ₹1,04,900.
That means consumers looking for a lower-cost entry into Apple’s newer iPhone ecosystem will now need a larger budget than before.
iPhone 16 Price Goes Up Too
Even the older iPhone 16 is affected by the revised pricing.
The model’s starting price in India has increased from ₹79,900 to around ₹89,900, based on Apple’s revised lineup.
This is unusual from a consumer perspective because older smartphones typically become cheaper as newer generations enter the market.
Apple’s latest adjustment means buyers should no longer automatically assume that waiting for the next iPhone launch will result in lower official prices for previous-generation models.
US iPhone Prices Have Increased by $100
The changes are not limited to India.
Apple has also raised prices for existing models in the United States.
The revised starting prices are:
- iPhone 16: $799, previously $699
- iPhone 17e: $699, previously $599
- iPhone 17: $899, previously $799
- iPhone Air: $1,099, previously $999
Each of these models therefore carries a $100 higher starting price than before the adjustment.
However, the percentage increases in the US are generally smaller than some of the changes seen in India.
Why Has Apple Increased iPhone Prices?
Rising component costs appear to be one of the key factors behind Apple’s pricing changes.
Memory and storage components have become increasingly expensive as artificial intelligence companies and data-center operators compete for semiconductor capacity.
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has created significant demand for memory and other chips. Consumer electronics manufacturers consequently face greater competition for some of the same components used in smartphones, computers and other devices.
Apple had previously indicated that increasing memory and storage expenses were becoming increasingly difficult to absorb.
The latest price increases therefore come amid broader pressure on hardware manufacturing costs rather than simply reflecting changes to the iPhone hardware itself.
Import duties, component costs and India’s 18% Goods and Services Tax also contribute to the difference between Indian and US iPhone pricing.
Why India’s Price Increase Stands Out
India is increasingly important to Apple’s global strategy.
The country is both a rapidly expanding consumer market and an important manufacturing base for iPhones. However, local manufacturing does not automatically mean every component used inside an iPhone is sourced domestically.
Taxes, imported components, supply-chain expenses and other costs can still influence the final retail price.
The scale of Apple’s latest adjustment is particularly striking because some Indian variants have risen substantially more than their US equivalents.
For example, the 1TB iPhone Air has experienced an increase of more than 40% in India.
That makes Apple’s pricing decision especially important for buyers in one of the company’s key growth markets.
Apple Discontinues the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max
Alongside the price changes, Apple has also discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max from its official lineup following the introduction of its latest Pro-generation devices.
This is consistent with Apple’s usual approach.
When new Pro models arrive, the company typically stops selling the previous-generation Pro devices directly rather than keeping them around at substantially reduced prices.
That does not necessarily mean the iPhone 17 Pro series will disappear immediately.
Third-party retailers and authorized resellers may continue selling remaining inventory until stocks run out. Depending on retailer promotions, those devices could potentially become attractive alternatives to some newly repriced models.
Should You Buy an iPhone Now or Wait?
For buyers in India, comparing prices before purchasing an iPhone has become more important.
Apple’s official store provides the manufacturer’s current pricing, but third-party retailers may still have inventory purchased before the latest revision. Retailers may also offer their own discounts, bank offers, exchange bonuses and seasonal promotions.
As a result, the official Apple price should not necessarily be treated as the lowest price available in the market.
Buyers considering an iPhone 16, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e or iPhone Air should compare the final effective price after discounts rather than focusing only on the listed MRP.
It may also be worth comparing discounted previous-generation Pro models with newly repriced standard devices where inventory remains available.
What the Price Increase Means for iPhone Buyers
Apple’s decision represents an important shift for consumers accustomed to waiting for a new iPhone launch before buying an older model.
Previously, waiting could often result in an official price reduction or attractive retail discounts.
In the current cycle, some devices have instead become considerably more expensive.
The iPhone Air is the clearest example, particularly in India, while the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e have also received substantial increases.
For price-conscious consumers, retailer discounts, exchange offers and festive sales could therefore play a bigger role in deciding when and where to buy an iPhone.
