We right here at Macworld like to get on our soapbox and complain concerning the specs the place Apple shortchanges prospects. We complained about RAM on Macs till Apple lastly needed to improve the baseline to 16GB to accommodate Apple Intelligence. Our newest trigger is the bottom storage configuration for iPhones: it must be 256GB, not the present 128GB.
Based on a Weibo put up by Setsuna Digital, that improve could lastly occur. Setsuna Digital, who has a status for correct iPhone leaks, states that, “In 2025, Professional will lastly begin at 256GB. That is actually not straightforward for Apple.😂” That might be a lift from the 128GB that the iPhone 16 Professional provides at its base configuration. (The bigger iPhone 16 Professional Max begins at 256GB.)
Which looks as if excellent news, however Setsuna Digital mentioned in a subsequent put up that the beginning worth will go up by $50, which signifies that the iPhone 17 Professional would begin at $1,049 or $1,149 for the bottom configuration, relying on whether or not the put up takes under consideration the additional $100 Apple already expenses for the 256GB mannequin.
We’ve seen different experiences that state that the iPhone 17 lineup could have greater costs. It appears unavoidable, contemplating the state of the financial system, tariffs, and rising prices. A technique for Apple to melt to blow of a better price ticket is to shift its storage choices. For instance, when Apple launched the iPhone 15 Professional Max, it began with 256GB of storage, eliminating the 128GB tier that was the bottom for the iPhone 14 Professional Max–however the beginning worth went up $100 to $1,199. That’s the identical worth Apple charged for the 256GB iPhone 14 Professional Max, so Apple wasn’t technically charging extra, simply eliminating one of many cheaper price choices.
So it looks as if we’ll see the same tactic to lift the value of the iPhone 17 Professional. A technique to take a look at it–and it might be one thing Apple will level out–is {that a} $1,049 worth for 256GB is definitely a worth drop, since Apple sells the 256GB iPhone 16 Professional for $1,099. That’s assuming Apple doesn’t bump the entry-level worth by $150, after all.
So far as the non-Professional mannequin, Apple is anticipated to maintain the identical $799 worth for the iPhone 17. The iPhone 17 Air, which is changing the $899 iPhone 16 Plus, might value extra, probably $949 or $999, to take the place of the higher-priced Professional mannequin.
We’ll find out how a lot all the things quickly sufficient, as Apple is anticipated to unveil the iPhone 17 subsequent month, probably on September 9. Till then, you may observe all of the rumors and experiences in our iPhone 17 superguide.