Next Pro iPhone could cost dearer, but Apple has a trick to compensate

A fresh leak from tipster Instant Digital on Weibo indicates Apple is planning a $50 (approx. Rs 4,378) price bump for its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro. Before you get too upset, the company is reportedly using a clever strategy to soften the financial blow for its customers.

iPhone 17 Pro: Marginally pricier, but could be worth it

The company plans to double the base storage from a sometimes cramped 128GB to a much more spacious 256GB. This change would set the new US starting price at a rumoured $1,049 (approx. Rs 91,865), making an already premium phone just a little bit costlier.

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Many analysts connect this adjustment directly to ongoing trade dynamics, specifically the hefty 30 percent tariff slapped on Chinese imports.

This is not the first time Apple has done this. The company pulled the same move with the iPhone 15 Pro Max launch in September 2023. It simply eliminated the 128GB version and presented the 256GB model as the new entry point.

Do not expect the Pro to be the only model getting more expensive. The entire iPhone 17 line-up, from the standard edition to the top-end iPhone 17 Pro Max, is rumoured to receive a similar price adjustment.

The Pro Max could start at $1,249 (approx. Rs 109,379), while a rumoured super-slim “iPhone 17 Air” is set to replace the outgoing Plus model. We will get the full official story when Apple takes the stage for its launch event next month, which is widely expected to happen on September 9.

A significant redesign is coming to the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple could be playing around once again with the materials as the phone is rumoured to include a part-aluminium, part-glass body for better durability. A new rectangular camera housing will also be present, stretching across the phone’s rear.

Under the hood, an A19 Pro chip and a powerful 48-megapixel Telephoto lens promise big performance and photo improvements behind a more scratch-resistant display.