There are moments when buying an iPhone feels like a bad idea by default. Summer is one of them, especially when the next generation is just around the corner and everyone starts thinking it might be wiser to wait until September. Among Apple users, it has almost become an unwritten rule. Except this year, that rule is starting to crack.
Apple has already begun raising prices across a large part of its catalog. Macs, iPads, Apple TV, HomePod, Vision Pro… several product families have been affected, sometimes with increases that are hard to ignore. iPhones, for now, are still among the rare survivors. And that “for now” changes the whole reading of the market.
Why this buying window is different
Usually, waiting for a new iPhone gives you two options: getting the latest model or seeing older models drop slightly in price. It was comfortable, almost predictable. Today, the context is much tighter. RAM and storage have become significantly more expensive, partly because data centers built for AI are consuming massive volumes of components. This is not a small background trend. It is an industrial pressure that is touching the entire consumer electronics market.
Apple has absorbed part of these increases for a long time. But if the company has started passing them on to Macs and iPads, it would be naive to think the iPhone will stay protected forever. Apple’s smartphone also relies on memory, fast storage, advanced sensors and premium components. It is probably being spared because of timing, not because of a miracle.
The iPhone 17 becomes the most strategic model
The iPhone 17 is especially interesting. It is the standard model, the one aimed at most people, but it finally gained features that were long reserved for Pro versions, including a smoother ProMotion display. At €969 with 256GB of storage, it is not cheap. Yet in today’s Apple universe, it still offers a rare balance between power, software longevity and modern hardware.
What makes it more appealing than usual is not only its spec sheet. It is the timing. The next standard iPhone is not expected to replace it immediately, and the higher-end models may be the first ones exposed to a price increase. In that scenario, the iPhone 17 feels like an anchor point: recent, complete, and still sold before a possible new pricing step.
The iPhone 16 is still in the game
The iPhone 16 still makes a lot of sense. It does not offer everything found on the iPhone 17, but it keeps you inside the Apple ecosystem without pushing the budget too far. The most interesting part often happens at third-party retailers: when Apple changes its prices, independent stores do not always adjust immediately. For a few weeks, there can be a gap between old stock, discounts and new pricing. That gap creates a zone where “old” prices suddenly become good deals.
My view as a tech blogger
This period says a lot about what consumer tech is becoming. For years, we lived with the idea that a newer product would naturally be more powerful, better equipped and sometimes cheaper for the same level of performance. That logic is now starting to break. AI is not only showing up in apps: it is also changing the cost of components that end up inside our phones.
Buying an iPhone now, then, is not a whim. It is almost a way to lock in a price before the market becomes tougher. And for once, waiting until September is not automatically the smartest reflex.
What to remember
The iPhone is still expensive, but it may soon look less expensive than it will tomorrow. Apple has not yet touched iPhone prices, while the rest of its catalog already shows where things are going. The real question is not whether the iPhone has suddenly become affordable. The question is whether today’s price window might become tomorrow’s regret.
FAQ
Why is now considered a good time to buy an iPhone?
Because iPhones have not yet been affected by the wave of price increases applied to other Apple products. The risk is that upcoming models may arrive with higher prices.
Should you wait for the next Apple keynote?
Waiting still makes sense for those who absolutely want the newest model. But in a context of rising component costs, waiting can also mean paying more.
Is the iPhone 17 the best choice right now?
It is one of the most balanced models at the moment. Its ProMotion display, more comfortable base storage and long software support make it a strong generation.
Is the iPhone 16 still worth considering?
Yes, especially if its price drops at retailers. It remains modern, compatible with the recent Apple ecosystem and less expensive than the iPhone 17.
I'm Clémentine Pithon, and as a technology enthusiast, I write articles to guide you through the world of refurbished devices. My goal is simple: to help you make informed choices, understand the products, and get the most out of them every day. Tips, explanations, and practical advice are at the heart of my articles.
