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iPhone 17 Pro May Start at 256GB Storage as $50 Price Hike Rumours Intensify

Highlights

Apple may raise prices across the iPhone 17 lineup due to rising component costs and tariffs.
The iPhone 17 Pro is now rumoured to start with 256GB storage.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on September 9 with new features and design updates.

Caption – iPhone 17 dummy units in white colour. (Image credit – @SonnyDickson on X)

If you’re planning to purchase the iPhone 17 Pro, it’s worth preparing for a potentially higher starting price. Apple is expected to raise prices across the entire iPhone 17 lineup. One analyst predicted a $50 increase for every model. Notably, the iPhone 17 Pro is now rumoured to start with 256GB of storage, which may be part of Apple’s effort to justify the price hike. Here’s what we know so far.

17 Pro To Start At 256GB

Caption – Tipster Instant Digital’s post on Weibo. (Translated via Google Translate)

The leaker known as Instant Digital on the Chinese app Weibo has doubled down on previous rumours, stating that the iPhone 17 series will be unveiled on Tuesday, September 9. They also speculated that the $50 price increase might come alongside a storage upgrade for some models.

By increasing the base storage of the iPhone 17 Pro to 256GB, Apple would align it with the Pro Max model and effectively offer more value at the new price point. Compared to the current iPhone 16 Pro with 256GB, this change would amount to an effective $50 price cut.

If the reports of price hike hold true, the base iPhone 17 could launch at $849, while the top-tier iPhone 17 Pro Max might start at $1,249 and reach up to $1,649 for higher storage variants.

Currently, the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16 Pro all start with 128GB of base storage, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max begins at 256GB. Their respective starting prices are $799, $899, $999, and $1,199.

Analysts at Jefferies have also projected that Apple would introduce a $50 price hike across the iPhone 17 range to account for increased component costs and tariffs from China.

Similarly, a report by The Wall Street Journal in May suggested that Apple was weighing price increases for the iPhone 17 lineup. However, rather than citing tariffs, the company reportedly plans to justify the higher prices with design updates and new features.

Apple has yet to officially confirm any details.

FAQs

Q1. Will the iPhone 17 Pro be more expensive than its predecessor?

Answer. Yes. Analysts predict a $50 price hike across all iPhone 17 models, with the iPhone 17 Pro expected to start at $1,049, up from $999 for the iPhone 16 Pro.

Q2. What is the expected base storage for the iPhone 17 Pro?

Answer. 256GB. Rumours suggest Apple will upgrade the base storage of the iPhone 17 Pro to 256GB, matching the Pro Max and offering more value at the higher price.