The iPhone may have avoided last week’s price hikes, but it may not last all year.
Even Apple can’t avoid the impact of the current memory shortage, and we saw proof of that when it raised the prices of several products. That’s not so surprising, considering outgoing CEO Tim Cook. The Wall Street Journal earlier this month that “price increases are inevitable.” To that end, we’ve seen Apple raise prices across its iPad and Mac lines, up to $1,300 for the M3 Ultra Mac Studio and even increasing the price of the budget MacBook Neo by $100. Fortunately, there are still a few Apple products that have avoided the price hike, but it’s unclear if this will last.
Which Apple products have been spared from price increases?
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If you’re in the market for an iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods, the company hasn’t raised prices on those product lines. Not all iPhones in the Apple Store, from the iPhone 16 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, are affected, with the most affordable option remaining the latest iPhone 17e at $599.
Likewise, the store page lists Apple Watch models, including the Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3, and both Hermès-branded versions, at the same price. Depending on your budget, you can still get the SE 3 starting at $249 or the high-end Hermès Ultra 3 starting at $1,399. Likewise, the entire AirPods line has also avoided price changes, with the AirPods 4 launch price still being $129. There are smaller products and accessories that also retain their original price, like the Studio Display, AirTags, and Apple’s desktop peripherals.
Why have these Apple products avoided price changes?
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Apple only recently refreshed its MacBook and iPad lineups earlier this year with the addition of new products such as the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air with M5, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and Max, and iPad Air with M4. However, we expect Apple to unveil next-generation iPhones and Apple Watches this fall at its annual fall hardware event.
Smartphones and smartwatches are not exempt from being affected by the chip shortage, so it is more likely that Apple will consider raising prices when it launches the expected iPhone 18 series and the potential Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. According to research firm TechInsights, Apple may have to increase the price of its iPhone 18 Pro by as much as $270 to maintain margins. Rumors have also been circulating regarding a number of new sensors and features for the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which could contribute to a price increase.
Smaller items like AirPods, AirTags or Apple Pencil might be spared since they don’t need as much memory, but as Cook told the WSJ Regarding the current chip shortage, “we have tried to protect our customers from increases, but the situation has become untenable.”
