Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable are less than two months away from being revealed. That might seem like a reason to sit tight if you want to upgrade from an iPhone 16 or earlier series, but between impending price hikes and Apple’s new split launch schedule, there are good reasons to pick up an iPhone 17 series model right now. Here are five reasons to place your order today.
1. iPhone price hikes almost certain
Analysts suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could start at $1,299 and $1,399, respectively. This would be a $200 jump over their predecessors, with rising memory and storage costs (i.e. AI development) largely to blame. Meanwhile, pricing for the foldable iPhone could start north of $2,000. Apple has already increased the price of all its iPhone models in Japan. The iPhone 17, on the other hand, is still sold in the US and other regions at the price Apple set last September (starting at $799). At this point, upcoming price hikes for next-generation models seem inevitable, and there is no guarantee that the iPhone 17 series will be spared.
2. Some iPhone 18 models are still far away
As part of Apple’s new expected split launch strategy, only the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable models will arrive in September. The standard iPhone 18, the lower-cost iPhone 18e, and the iPhone Air 2 aren’t due until spring 2027, so anyone waiting for the direct successor to the standard iPhone 17 will be waiting several months longer than usual.
3. The base iPhone 18 could be a “downgrade”
A leaker has repeatedly claimed that Apple will reduce the display and chip specifications of the standard iPhone 18 to control costs, which could allow it to share more components with the cheaper iPhone 18e. And even with a 9GB RAM boost, the lower-end models still wouldn’t support two new iOS 27 features. Nothing’s certain yet, but if Apple is cutting corners for its next, more affordable base models, then the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17e could be the better-equipped option, especially given the expected price difference.
4. Some iPhone 18 upgrades remain uncertain
Several of the most eye-catching rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro may not come to fruition at launch. An early report claiming the iPhone 18 Pro would ditch the Dynamic Island for a punch-hole camera has completely lost steam, while rumors that the foldable iPhone’s 24-megapixel under-display camera might not be ready this year, and a truly crease-free foldable screen looks more like “almost crease-free” in practice. In other words, waiting doesn’t guarantee you’ll get everything the rumors predict.
5. Your trade is worth more today
Trade-in and resale values of older iPhones typically decline once a new generation is announced, meaning the iPhone in your pocket is likely at its peak value right now. Waiting until September to upgrade would mean paying more for the new, more expensive model and getting less for the old one, which would be a double whammy for your wallet.
None of this means Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup won’t be worth it. But if you’re upgrading from a pre-2025 iPhone and foldable isn’t something you’re considering, then an iPhone 17 series model might still be the smarter option.
