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With the new Pro models, Apple has also raised the prices of its other iPhones. The iPhone 16, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air are affected, with increases of almost €150 in Germany. What's remarkable is not so much the amount of the increase as the direction: the iPhone 16 is two generations old and yet costs €150 more than last week.
At the end of June, Apple raised prices for Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro, citing the situation in the memory market as the reason. iPhones were left out at that time – and that's precisely what's changing now. Alongside the introduction of the new Pro models, Apple has adjusted the price list across the board in its German store upwards. The current prices are available on Apple's German iPhone page.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The iPhone 16, iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e each cost 150 euros more than before the event.
- For the iPhone Air, the surcharge is 100 euros in the lower tiers, but 350 euros for 1 TB.
- In the US, the same models increased in price by $100 each.
- For the Pro models, the price difference increases with storage size: 150 euros for 256 GB, 400 euros for 1 TB.
- Apple Watch and AirPods are not affected by the round; in fact, the AirPods have become cheaper.
What the existing models cost now
The iPhone 16, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air remain in the product line. All four have become more expensive, while Apple has discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
| Model | Storage | Previously | Now | Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | 128 GB | 849 euros | 999 euros | 150 euros |
| iPhone 17e | 256 GB | 699 euros | 849 euros | 150 euros |
| iPhone 17e | 512 GB | 949 euros | 1,099 euros | 150 euros |
| iPhone 17 | 256 GB | 949 euros | 1,099 euros | 150 euros |
| iPhone 17 | 512 GB | 1,199 euros | 1,349 euros | 150 euros |
| iPhone Air | 256 GB | 1,199 euros | 1,299 euros | 100 euros |
| iPhone Air | 512 GB | 1,449 euros | 1,549 euros | 100 euros |
| iPhone Air | 1 TB | 1,699 euros | 2,049 euros | 350 euros |
One figure from this table stands out: The iPhone 16 with 128 GB now costs €999, which is €150 more than the iPhone 17e with twice the storage. So, anyone looking for the cheapest entry-level option in the store won't find it with the oldest device.
A price increase for the iPhone 17 was already being discussed in August but didn't materialize at the time. It has now been implemented along with the new generation.
The iPhone Air is affected by the largest storage tier
The iPhone Air is the exception. The price of the two lower-end models increases by €100, while the top-of-the-line 1TB model sees a €350 increase. This means the largest configuration now costs more than €2,000 for the first time, even though the device itself remains unchanged.
The upgrade from 512 GB to 1 TB previously cost €250; now it costs €500. The price for the same doubling of storage has therefore doubled.
The Pro models become more expensive towards the top end
A comparison of the outgoing generation with the new Pro generation reveals the same picture. The entry-level model is €150 more expensive, while the higher-end models are significantly more powerful.
| Storage | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | 1,299 euros | 1,449 euros | 1,449 euros | 1,599 euros |
| 512 GB | 1,549 euros | 1,699 euros | 1,699 euros | 1,849 euros |
| 1 TB | 1,799 euros | 2,199 euros | 1,949 euros | 2,349 euros |
| 2 TB | – | 2,949 euros | 2,449 euros | 3,099 euros |
The price difference between the old and new generation Pro Max models with 2TB is €650. That's roughly three-quarters of the starting price of an iPhone 17e.
In the US, the surcharge is smaller
Apple raised the US prices of its four existing models by $100 each. In Germany, the increase is €150, a proportionally higher price, a pattern already seen with the new Pro models. There, too, the $100 price increase in the US was €150.
A two-year-old model will be more expensive
The most striking case is the iPhone 16. It was released in September 2024, has long since been succeeded by the iPhone 17, and yet is priced €150 higher in stores than before the event. A device that has remained unchanged in the product range for two generations isn't selling off, but rather being made more expensive.
Apple cites the situation in the memory market as the reason – the same justification used in June to raise prices for Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro. It became apparent in August that the company had recently been unable to prevail in its negotiations with memory manufacturers.
Where the storage crisis will ultimately lead
The structure of the price increase reveals more than the amounts themselves. Where the surcharge remains at 100 or 150 euros, it applies to the base device. Where it jumps to 350, 400, or 650 euros, it's tied to the storage capacity – precisely where the increased procurement costs arise. Apple isn't distributing the additional costs evenly, but rather allocating them to the areas where they are incurred.
In practical terms, this means that you'll pay a manageable surcharge for the entry-level model, but a significant one for the largest storage tier. If you're torn between two tiers, the calculation is different than it was in August – and in most cases, it now favors the smaller option plus iCloud.
The storage crisis has affected the entire product range
Following Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro in June, it's now the turn of the iPhones, the highest-selling product line. The only exceptions this round are the Apple Watch, whose two new models are priced exactly the same as their predecessors, and the AirPods, which have even become cheaper with the fifth generation. How these new figures fit into the overall picture of the evening can be found in the overview of the September keynote.
The new amounts do not yet apply everywhere in the retail sector – in many places, old stocks are still being phased out at the old prices.
Are you sticking with the storage size you originally planned, or are you downsizing due to the higher price? Let us know in the comments which tier you're sticking with this time.
