While Apple emphasized price stability for hardware like the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 during its recent hardware presentation, the company simultaneously implemented unannounced price increases across its remaining previous-generation iPhone inventory.
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First identified by The Verge, Apple increased retail pricing across all previous-generation iPhone models retained in its storefront lineup. The price adjustments effectively reverse the standard post-launch discounts typically applied when newer flagship devices enter the market. The base iPhone 16 saw an upward price revision, returning to its original 2024 launch price.
Similarly, the iPhone 17 family experienced price increases across multiple tiers. The entry-level iPhone 17E received a price increase over its early-2026 introductory rate, while higher-tier configurations, including the 256GB iPhone 17 and the slim iPhone Air, were adjusted upward accordingly.
The legacy price adjustments coincide with broader supply chain pressures affecting semiconductor, RAM, and flash storage costs across the consumer electronics sector. Conversely, Apple’s audio accessory catalogue remained unaffected by the pricing overhaul. The AirPods lineup, including the AirPods Pro 3, maintained its baseline pricing structure, largely because the peripheral architecture does not require the extensive onboard memory components driving costs up in mobile hardware.
