Analysts Suggest Buying iPhone 17 Now Before Potential Price Rise and Limited iPhone 18 Launch
Industry reports indicate the iPhone 18 may debut only with Pro and foldable models in September, while regular and lower-end versions could arrive in 2027, prompting advice to purchase the iPhone 17 at current prices.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and a foldable model at its September event, with the standard iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18e slated for release in early 2027, according to recent rumors. Analysts say this staggered rollout could keep the iPhone 17’s price stable for now, but there is also a possibility that Apple may raise prices to offset higher component costs.
TrendForce data projects the iPhone 18 Pro could be priced about 38% higher than its predecessor, and the firm suggests Apple might increase the price of the regular iPhone 17 after the Pro launch. The current iPhone 17 starts at $799 in the United States, and a price increase would affect consumers who are considering an upgrade.
Apple recently raised prices for iPads, Macs, Apple TV and HomePod devices, though iPhones and Apple Watches were left unchanged in the U.S. market. The company has a history of lowering trade-in values for older models when new iPhones are announced, which could further reduce the financial benefit of waiting.
Trade-in offers currently top out at $720 for an iPhone 16 Pro Max and as low as $40 for an iPhone 8, while the iPhone 15 can fetch up to $335. Analysts note that trade-in values may be adjusted downward once newer models become available.
A leaker identified as Fixed Focus Digital, cited by MacRumors, claims the regular iPhone 18 may feature a less bright display and a reduced GPU core count compared with the iPhone 17, aligning it more closely with the upcoming iPhone 18e. The iPhone 17, by contrast, retains a high-brightness screen (up to 3,000 nits), a six-core GPU in the A19 Pro chip, and a 120 Hz ProMotion display with Always-On capability.
The iPhone 17 also adds double the base storage (minimum 256 GB), an upgraded selfie camera, improved main lenses and a larger battery. Its A19 processor is described as among the fastest on the market and compatible with upcoming iOS 27 features.
Given the expected limited changes in design and possible component compromises for the iPhone 18, analysts recommend purchasing the iPhone 17 now to avoid potential price hikes and reduced trade-in values.