Apple’s Upcoming Price Hike Could Hit Your Wallet Hard

Apple fans should brace for sticker shock ahead. The tech giant is expected to hike prices on its flagship iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods later this year, potentially shaking up your upgrade plans.

After a wave of product price increases earlier this year on Macs, iPads, Apple TVs, and even the pricey Vision Pro headset, Apple kept its newest iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods untouched — but that calm won’t last. All signs now point to Apple slapping price hikes on these flagship products during its highly anticipated September launch.

From the start of the year, Apple’s other hardware saw price increases ranging from 5% up to nearly 40%, pushing consumers to tighten their wallets. This wasn’t without reason — global supply chain issues, including severe RAM and storage shortages intertwined with surging AI-related demands, made components more expensive. Tim Cook even acknowledged that passing costs onto customers was inevitable.

Alongside the price rises, Apple recently introduced a leasing program mimicking car leases, letting customers pay a lower monthly fee for products like iPhones. For example, instead of financing a $1,200 iPhone at roughly $50 a month, leasing can drop that to $32 monthly with zero interest — with ownership transferred after the lease period. This approach masks the rising costs, making upgrades feel more affordable on a monthly basis, even as the sticker prices climb.

Perhaps the clearest indicator of coming price shifts is Apple’s rumored release strategy this year. For the first time in over a decade, the company may skip launching a standard iPhone model alongside its Pro and Pro Max versions. Instead, Apple is set to offer only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and a rumored ultra-premium iPhone Ultra — effectively positioning more expensive models as the baseline. The budget-friendly iPhone 18 could be delayed until spring 2027, forcing even cost-conscious buyers toward pricier options.

This change plays psychological games with consumers. While the entry-level iPhone 18 Pro’s starting price might soar to $1,399, a full $300 more than last year’s 17 Pro, monthly leasing may soften the blow. But if you already own a 17 Pro and are eyeing an upgrade, the limited performance improvements — like the new 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, slightly better battery life, and minor camera tweaks — might not justify paying that premium.

Adding to the complexity, Apple will continue selling older standard models like the iPhone 17 at around $799 or possibly $899. This creates a hefty price gap in the lineup, with no mid-tier “regular” new phone to fill the space, making purchase decisions tricky for consumers looking to balance features and cost.

Apple Watches, notably untouched in earlier price hikes, are expected to rise as well. The Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra are likely to jump by about $50 and $100 respectively due to their increasing RAM and system chip requirements. Currently, discounts bring the Series 11 as low as $299 and the Ultra around $699 on Amazon, but those bargains might become rarer soon.

AirPods’ future price changes are less certain. The AirPods Pro 3, which rely on the less RAM-intensive H2 chip and minimal internal storage, might stay close to their current $250 price point. However, Apple could introduce a high-end AirPods Ultra with advanced sensors and cameras to sister the pricier iPhone Ultra, potentially pushing some AirPods pricing upward.

So, should you wait for the new releases or buy now? If you’re eyeing the iPhone 17 Pro or the standard iPhone 17, grabbing one soon might save you the upcoming price inflation. Given the relatively minor hardware upgrades expected in the iPhone 18 Pro and the roughly $300 price spike, jumping in now seems wise if you need a new phone. Similarly, Apple Watch and AirPods shoppers may want to act fast before prices rise.

Apple’s attempts to cushion price hikes with leasing and strategic product line adjustments suggest the company expects consumers will keep paying more for premium devices — at least for the foreseeable future.