Apple has increased the prices of its older smartphone lineup following the recent launch of its new flagship devices. Every retained model received an unannounced $100 price bump across the digital store. The company also discontinued several existing Pro handsets to clear room for incoming hardware.
Shoppers looking for a discount on older hardware are in for an expensive surprise. Prices jumped overnight without any warning from Cupertino. The 128GB iPhone 16 now starts at $799 instead of its previous $699 cost. Buyers opting for the 256GB iPhone 17e will now pay $699 rather than $599, while the standard 256GB iPhone 17 climbed from $799 to $899. Even the first generation 256GB iPhone Air was hit with the change, moving from $999 to a steeper $1099 sticker price.
Apple pulled the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max from its retail listings at the same time. Retiring previous high end hardware is normal practice to prevent internal competition against fresh releases. What caught industry watchers off guard was the absence of mainstream updates. Apple did not show off the base iPhone 18 or a second generation iPhone Air during the presentation. Early rumors indicate that buyers waiting on those specific devices might have to hold out until spring 2027.
