Following Apple’s unveiling of the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro at its “Surprise and shine” event, the prices of previous-generation iPhone models still on sale were increased by $100. The price of the iPhone 16, which was $699 last week, rose to $799. The iPhone 17E with 256GB of storage increased to $699 from its launch price of $599. The 256GB iPhone 17 rose from $799 to $899. The price increase also covered the iPhone Air; the model’s new price was set at $1,099 instead of $999. At Apple’s September event, the focus was on high-end models starting at $1,199, while the base iPhone 18 was not introduced. Access to the affordable iPhone models that the company kept on sale has thus become more expensive.
Why it matters
The price adjustment is also making it more difficult for users who do not prefer the new high-end devices or cannot afford this price level to access the existing options. As the models kept on sale become more expensive, the position of affordable options in the product lineup is changing, while users’ decisions will be shaped not only by new features but also by price differences. The fact that the base model was not introduced at the event leaves an open question about Apple’s entry-level product strategy. The information provided does not explain the cost or commercial rationale behind the increases; therefore, the impact of the rise on user demand and the sales balance cannot yet be assessed.
Background
Apple is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 47 news reports mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the latest is dated September 13, 2026.