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Apple skips base iPhone 18, raises prices on iPhone 17 and 16 by $100
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Apple did not announce the base iPhone 18 at its fall event, launching only the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Duo, while raising prices on existing iPhone 17 and 16 models by $100.
The absence of a new base iPhone this holiday quarter means the installed base of current-generation hardware skews premium, and the across-the-board price increases may slow upgrades for cost-conscious users. Developers targeting new device capabilities will reach a narrower audience until the base model arrives.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
Apple launched only the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Duo at its fall event, skipping the base iPhone 18.
Apple raised prices on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 by $100 each, and the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max also cost $100 more than their predecessors.
Memory and chip shortages likely forced Apple to prioritize higher-margin models, with the base iPhone 18 expected in spring alongside rumored iPhone Air and iPhone 18E models.
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