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iPhone 17 Pro may start at $1,049 with 256GB base storage. All iPhone 17 models get a $50 price hike, debuting Sept 9 with A19 Pro chip and ProMotion displays.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro could arrive with a slightly steeper price tag, but the baseline model is expected to pack more storage. Multiple supply chain reports and well-known leakers suggest the Pro will start at $1,049 — $50 more than the current iPhone 16 Pro. The base capacity, however, is rumored to jump from 128GB to 256GB, matching the Pro Max.
Right now, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 for 128GB, while moving to 256GB pushes the price to $1,099. If this year’s leaks prove accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro’s new entry price effectively makes that higher storage tier $50 cheaper than last year and brings more consistency to Apple’s high-end lineup.
This adjustment may not be limited to the Pro. Analysts and sources such as Instant Digital claim all four models — the iPhone 17, the new iPhone 17 Air (set to replace the Plus), the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max — will see the same $50 bump. That would place starting prices at roughly $849 for the iPhone 17, $949 for the 17 Air, $1,049 for the 17 Pro, and $1,249 for the Pro Max.
Industry reports point to rising component costs and U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made parts as factors behind the increase. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is not expected to highlight tariffs in its messaging, instead positioning the changes alongside feature and design upgrades to make the pricing shift more palatable.
Doubling the Pro’s base storage isn’t just a cosmetic bump. With 4K video recording, ever-larger iOS app sizes, and growing demand for high-resolution photos, 128GB fills up faster than many users anticipate. Starting at 256GB could delay the need for storage upgrades, while also aligning the Pro with the Pro Max in terms of default capacity.
Leakers also expect the entire iPhone 17 lineup to feature 120Hz ProMotion displays and Apple’s new A19 Pro processor, built on TSMC’s latest 3nm manufacturing process for potential gains in performance and battery life. The iPhone 17 Air, reportedly a thinner and lighter replacement for the Plus model, would offer a middle ground between the standard and Pro lines.
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 17 series on September 9, with pre-orders likely starting later that week and shipments beginning around September 19. If the pricing and feature rumors hold, buyers may face higher costs but also more substantial upgrades than in some recent cycles.
Would paying $50 more for double the storage feel like a fair trade to you? Share your take in the comments.