Will Tariffs Affect the Price of the Upcoming iPhone 17? Should You Wait or Upgrade Now?

Nobody truly understands how the Trump administration's tariffs are going to shake out, probably not even the guy who's imposing them. But it's undeniable that they're creating an air of uncertainty around big-ticket purchases this year — especially if you're considering an upgrade to an iPhone 17 When the updated versions arrive this autumn.

Apple hasn’t disclosed its pricing strategy just yet and probably won’t do so until the very last minute before unveiling the new devices. However, the company has admitted that tariffs could potentially affect its operations. During their recent quarterly earnings announcement, Apple informed Wall Street analysts about their expectations regarding these impacts. the tariffs will add $900 million to its costs during the June quarter.

This doesn’t mean that Apple will burden its customers with these additional costs. In fact, the company is working to reduce the effect of tariffs by relocating much of the production destined for the U.S., moving it out of China—a primary focus under President Trump’s trade strategies. As per CEO Tim Cook, most of the iPhones expected to sell between April and June will originate from factories in India instead.

It remains uncertain what this will mean for the pricing of the iPhone 17. However, over recent years, Apple has generally maintained stable phone prices, usually increasing them by around $100. iPhone 15 Pro Max being the only increase since the price of the entry-level model went up between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12. (Even then, the introduction of the iPhone 12 mini meant you could still get a flagship device for $699.)

In a volatile market, it could be tempting for people contemplating an iPhone upgrade to remove all doubt about future pricing by getting that new phone now. The question is, should you? What are the risks and rewards of opting for the price certainty of an iPhone 16 model , instead of waiting for an iPhone 17 later this year?

I can't tell you what's going to happen with tariffs, but I do know a thing or two about iPhones, having covered these devices since the first iPhone debuted in 2007. With that background and by monitoring all the latest rumors about what features are likely to come to the next round of iPhones, I can offer some advice on reasons why you might want to upgrade now as well as why it might make more sense to wait.

Reasons to get an iPhone 16 now

When I mention seizing control, iPhone 16 Now, my focus isn’t on a specific model. The points discussed would apply to all devices, including the more affordable iPhone 16e.

For the purposes of this discussion, I’m assuming that when you upgrade, you’re purchasing the iPhone at its current base price of $599. iPhone 16e , $799 for the iPhone 16, $899 for the iPhone 16 Plus , $999 for the iPhone 16 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max - or taking advantage of one of the top iPhone deals to save some money. The choice of which iPhone 16 model you would opt for is completely up to your preference.

Upgrade today: The present iPhones are highly commendable.

I say this as someone who's got 18 years of iPhone reviews under his belt — this current lineup features the best iPhones ever.

Build yourself a time machine, and you'd have a hard time finding a model that's as powerful of long-lasting as the ones available right now. These iPhones also take the best pictures and offer the widest range of features. Get an iPhone 16, and you won't be short-changed.

Will the iPhone 17 models be better than these current versions? That's certainly the way things are supposed to work, with each successive generation besting the last. But even if an iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 comparison comes out in the new phone's favor, any iPhone you buy right now will be a top phone for a very long time.

Upgrade today: Get Apple Intelligent Support

We're at the bottom level of the building. Apple Intelligence During the rollout, things can only improve with Apple’s collection of AI features. When this happens, you would expect the iPhone 16 to join in as well.

Currently, any device capable of supporting Apple Intelligence—that's the iPhone 15 Pro And at a later stage—can execute the same functionalities. This holds true even for. Visual Intelligence , which was previously exclusive to the iPhone 16, has now been expanded to include the iPhone 15 Pro models as well. iOS 18.4 update.

To put it differently, Apple aims to make its AI tools accessible to as broad a user base as possible. Consequently, when fresh features are rolled out later this year, expect them to function just as smoothly on an iPhone 16 as they will on more recent models.

That also goes for the iOS 19 software update expected this fall. There may be some iPhone 17-specific features on there, but I'd certainly anticipate that most of the major new additions to Apple's iPhone software will work just fine on any iPhone 16.

Upgrade now: Don't expect phone carriers to absorb any price hikes

Old heads like me can remember the days when phone carriers subsidized the cost of devices. You'd sign up for a contract with a wireless provide that tied you to their service, and in exchange, you'd get the phone for much cheaper than it actually costs.

Those days are long over, and that has some worrying implications if tariffs do end up making phones more expensive.

"As far as the impact of tariffs is concerned, should they have a significant effect, I believe that at the end of the day, customers will likely find themselves bearing this additional expense," stated T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert during an earnings call. A report in The Street Undertaking significant changes in tariffs doesn’t align with our business strategy and isn’t something we’re equipped to attempt.

T-Mobile is not unusual in this regard. According to Bloomberg , both AT&T and Verizon have indicated that the same applies to tariff costs being transferred to consumers.

This is particularly pertinent in the U.S., as consumers here tend to purchase their phones directly from the provider offering their mobile service. If prices of devices go up, you'll end up paying more for such carrier-provided handsets. Getting an upgrade now prevents that potential increase in cost.

Reasons to anticipate the iPhone 17

The eventual price of the iPhone 17 models isn't the only thing that's unknown at this point. We also don't have any official indication of what Apple's planning for its upcoming phones. But this is where sorting through various iPhone rumors can help out.

It's fairly clear that three phones are returning to Apple's lineup — a standard iPhone 17, along with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max . Instead of a Plus model, Apple is tipped to be turning to an entirely new design — an ultra thin model tentatively called the iPhone 17 Air .

Upgrade later: You'll miss out on key new features

The Pro models usually get the lion's share of attention when it comes to new features, but if you favor Apple's cheaper flagship, there's an exciting potential upgrade that can be yours with the iPhone 17. After years of limiting fast refresh displays to its Pro models, Apple will reportedly bring a 120Hz screen to the iPhone 17 this year.

Quick-update screens provide smoother scrolling and improved visuals, and after experiencing these, it’s tough to go back to the typical 60Hz refresh rate. Should this not be something important to you – or perhaps you already own a Pro version with such a display – then this might not seem like an appealing enhancement. However, if implemented, it would mark significant progress for the base-model iPhone.

On the Pro side of the ledger, Apple may be contemplating an upgrade to the telephoto lens on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Recent models have offered 12MP zoom lens, but Apple is rumored to be looking at a 48MP sensor for the upcoming Pro models.

That upgrade comes with a caveat, as one rumor says the The new telephoto lens will provide a maximum of 3.5 times magnification. . Current iPhone 16 Pro models and the iPhone 15 Pro support a 5x zoom, so that's a potential downgrade. Older models have a 3x zoom, though, so you may not care about that particular change.

How key each rumored iPhone 17 improvement turns out to be depends on the model you're upgrading from, but if there's a can't-miss feature out there for you, check the various iPhone 17 rumor round-ups to make sure you're not missing out if you opt for a new phone now to beat any tariff impacts.

Upgrade later: You're intrigued by the iPhone 17 Air

Say what you will about the current iPhone lineup. But no phone is as thin as the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be.

At 7.8mm, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are the thinnest Apple phones of the bunch. Based on a video that claims to show an iPhone 17 Air dummy unit , Apple's upcoming phone will be 5.65mm at its thinnest point. And it's expected to offer a 6.6-inch display, so you're getting a big screen to go with that slender frame.

It's not clear what the iPhone 17 Air will have going for it besides that thin design. But for some people, that will be enough to wait for this fall, no matter what impact any tariffs have.

iPhone upgrading outlook

Generally, my advice on the right time to buy a new phone is to do it at the precise moment you need a new phone. In other words, don't worry about upcoming features that may or may not appear — when you need a new device, you should get one that's a clear upgrade over what you have now. And if you can afford to wait, then do.

The uncertainty around tariffs and how their influence might affect the price of iPhones This adds an additional layer of complexity to that guidance. Now, you must consider your personal budget and determine whether you can actually afford to exceed Apple's present pricing, particularly if phone costs increase by autumn.

Once more, it’s possible that prices stay the same as they were last year, and the release of the iPhone 17 happens smoothly with no tariff-related complications. However, should this possibility linger in the back of your thoughts, perhaps the guidance provided earlier about choosing to upgrade immediately versus waiting until later will assist you in making a well-considered choice.

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