Apple is expected to announce its iPhone 18 lineup during next week’s Surprise and Shine event. The Cupertino, California-based company traditionally debuts its flagship iPhone models during its annual September showcase. But this fall’s new iPhones could come with a few twists, including major changes to the starting price.
This may be the first year that the cheapest new iPhone starts at more than $1,000. Since the base iPhone 18 is expected to be delayed until spring 2027, folks who want to buy one of the latest models might have to pay at least $1,099 for the iPhone 18 Pro. And that’s if the rising RAM prices don’t come into play (Spoiler: They probably will).
In June, Apple raised the prices on over a dozen products, including MacBooks and iPads, with outgoing CEO Tim Cook citing a “100-year flood” on the cost of memory components. It was rumored that iPhones were next in line for a price hike; however, so far, none of the existing prices have changed.
After the ongoing RAM shortage increased the cost of most new phones, including the Pixel 11 and Samsung foldables, it’s hard to imagine that the iPhone 18 series won’t also cost more this year. And with a new foldable iPhone expected to debut at over $2,000, this fall’s flagship iPhones may be Apple’s most expensive by far.
How will the iPhone 18 fit into Apple’s pricing lineup?
Apple’s 2025 lineup is made up of iPhone models aimed at different people, with the E, Pro and Air variants.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
Since 2020, pricing for each year’s new iPhones has remained relatively consistent, with the base model starting at $829 (not counting the mini variant, which started at $729 and was discontinued after 2021). Pro models used to start at $999, until last year, when the iPhone 17 Pro debuted at $1,099.
Typically, the previous year’s base model continues to be sold for one more year, at a $100 discount. Apple still offers the 2024 iPhone 16 and 16 Plus for $729 and $829, respectively.
But because we don’t expect a base iPhone 18 to be announced at the Sept. 9 event, we don’t know whether the availability or pricing of previous models will change this year. The iPhone 16 may get discontinued, and the iPhone 17 may still be offered at the current $829 price. There’s even a chance the iPhone 17 ends up costing more.
The anticipated iPhone 18 Pro will likely be the cheapest new iPhone announced next week. Assuming its price increases by a (relatively) modest $100, it would debut at $1,199. If the price difference between the Pro and Pro Max models remains at $100, then the iPhone 18 Pro Max will start at $1,299.
What if I want to buy a cheaper iPhone?
If you don’t need the latest and greatest and just want an iPhone that will perform decently for the next three to five years, you still have a few great options.
The iPhone 17 is currently available for $829. It has an A19 chip and a 1-120Hz display, which should hold up nicely for several years. It’s a “solid all-around device for most people who want something reliable and capable without breaking the bank,” earning a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
The iPhone 17E is a midrange phone that debuted in March. For $599, it has an A19 chip with one fewer GPU core than the base 17 model, and its screen is capped at a 60Hz refresh rate. It has just a single rear camera, lacking the base 17’s ultrawide.
If you’re interested in a newer form factor, there’s also the iPhone Air. It starts at $999 and has the same A19 Pro chip as the 17 Pro, but with one fewer GPU core. It has a single rear camera, but a larger screen than the 17E that supports a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
You could also wait a few more months to upgrade. All three of these models are expected to be refreshed next spring. But it remains to be seen whether the prices will change for the expected iPhone 18, 18E or second-generation Air.
If the only thing you don’t like about your current iPhone is the battery, get it replaced. It’ll save you hundreds of dollars and add two to three years of life back to your current iPhone.
Finally, if you don’t need to purchase a phone brand new, you can consider Apple’s refurbished offerings. However, these prices could also be affected by the RAM crisis.
In any other year, you would be better off waiting until after Apple’s September event to buy a new iPhone. But this is a uniquely unpredictable year for Apple’s product pricing. Unless you absolutely need a folding iPhone, you may want to keep some money in your wallet and opt for an older model.
