The storage crisis strikes: Apple makes older iPhones more expensive - up to 350 euros more
[18:16 Thu,10.September 2026 � by Thomas Richter] ���
Apple has not only made these new models significantly more expensive than their predecessors during the introduction of the iPhone 18 Pro (Max) and the foldable iPhone Duo, but, unusually, has also significantly raised the prices of the older iPhones that remain in the lineup. Alongside the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, this affects the iPhone 17e, which was only released in March, and even the iPhone 16.
Up to 150 euros more for the entry-level models
Anyone wanting to buy the latest standard iPhone rather than the Pro version now has to dig deeper into their pockets: the German entry-level price for the iPhone 17 with 256 GB has risen from 949 to 1,099 euros. For the first time, Apple did not unveil all versions of a new iPhone generation together, initially presenting only the Pro and Pro Max versions. The iPhone 17e, also with 256 GB, cost 699 euros when it was launched in March and is now priced at 849 euros – meaning a markup of 150 euros in both cases. The iPhone 16, which is now two years old, is also getting more expensive. Apple last offered the 128 GB version for 849 euros – currently, the German Apple Store is charging 999 euros, which is also an increase of 150 euros. For the iPhone Air, the price increase for the base model is slightly smaller: the 256 GB version goes up by only 100 euros, from 1,199 to 1,299 euros – as does the 512 GB version – but for the maximum configuration with 1 TB, the price jump is particularly large, going from 1,699 to 2,049 euros, a hefty markup of 350 euros.
Predecessor models get more expensive instead of cheaper
Normally, Apple uses a generational shift to offer older iPhones in its portfolio at lower prices. This time, the price trend is moving in the opposite direction; the culprit behind all of this is, of course, the general memory crisis triggered by the enormous demand from AI data centers. Back in June, (now former) Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple could not permanently avoid price increases due to worldwide shortages and significantly higher costs for DRAM and NAND. This subsequently came to pass: first it hit MacBooks, iPads, Apple TV, and HomePods, while iPhones were initially spared. With the now-increased prices for the iPhone 16, 17e, 17, and Air, as well as the higher prices of the new 18 Pro models, the AI-driven memory crisis has finally arrived in Apple's smartphone portfolio as well. These across-the-board price increases put the price hike of the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models into perspective, which, at 150 euros for the 256 GB and 512 GB variants, is just as high as for the corresponding older iPhone 16, 17, and 17e versions.
As major memory manufacturers redirect a growing share of their production capacity toward more lucrative data center products, the memory required for PCs and smartphones is becoming scarcer and more expensive. (According to pessimistic voices,) the memory crisis is expected to last even longer and even worsen, with DRAM becoming even more expensive next year.
iPhone 16, 17e, 17 & Air – Price Comparison
Model
Storage
Previous Price
Current Price
Change
iPhone 16
128 GB
849 €
999 €
+150 €
iPhone 17e
256 GB
699 €
849 €
+150 €
iPhone 17e
512 GB
949 €
1,099 €
+150 €
iPhone 17
256 GB
949 €
1,099 €
+150 €
iPhone 17
512 GB
1,199 €
1,349 €
+150 €
iPhone Air
256 GB
1,199 €
1,299 €
+100 €
iPhone Air
512 GB
1,449 €
1,549 €
+100 €
iPhone Air
1 TB
1,699 €
2,049 €
+350 €
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 18 Pro Max – Price Comparison
Storage
iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 18 Pro Max
Change
256 GB
1,449 €
1,599 €
+150 €
512 GB
1,699 €
1,849 €
+150 €
1 TB
1,949 €
2,349 €
+400 €
2 TB
2,449 €
3,099 €
+650 €
iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro – Price Comparison
