BGR Urges iPhone 17 Upgrade Before Possible 38% iPhone 18 Pro Price Jump

Q: Why might waiting for the standard iPhone 18 actually cost you more money and leave you with inferior technology?

Waiting for the standard iPhone 18 could mean paying more for less. The biggest risk is price timing. Multiple reports say Apple may launch only the iPhone 18 Pro models and a foldable phone in September 2026, pushing the regular iPhone 18 to early 2027. In that gap, Apple could raise prices on the Pro line and even increase the price of the still-on-sale iPhone 17, which now starts at $799. Analysts have cited sharply higher component costs for the iPhone 18 generation, especially memory and TSMC’s 2nm chips, with some estimates putting the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,299 to $1,399. That raises the odds of broader price increases across the lineup. Waiting can also make the upgrade itself costlier because trade-in values usually fall after new iPhones are announced. Apple is currently offering up to $720 for an iPhone 16 Pro Max and up to $335 for an iPhone 15, but those values typically drop with each launch, reducing the credit buyers can apply to a new phone. At the same time, the standard iPhone 18 may not be a clear hardware upgrade. Leaks suggest Apple could cut costs on the base model with a less premium display and a weaker version of the A20 chip, possibly with fewer GPU cores. Even if it keeps features like ProMotion and Always-On Display, it may be dimmer or less capable than the iPhone 17, which already offers 256GB storage, a 120Hz display, the A19 chip, and recent camera and battery improvements.

Q: Could the delayed iPhone 18 actually be a downgrade disguised as a new release to push sales of premium models?

It is possible, but the evidence so far points more to Apple widening the gap between standard and premium iPhones than to an outright “fake upgrade.” The reporting and leaks suggest a deliberate strategy. Apple is widely expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and a foldable in September 2026, while delaying the regular iPhone 18, Air 2 and 18e until early 2027. That timing would keep the iPhone 17 on shelves longer as the main mainstream model and shift attention to higher-margin devices. There is also a credible case that the base iPhone 18 could feel less ambitious than usual. Leaks indicate Apple may use a less premium display and a weaker A20 graphics configuration, potentially closer to the rumored 18e than to the Pro line. If true, that would make the “new” standard model look more like a cost-controlled refresh than a major step forward. At the same time, there are real cost pressures. TrendForce estimates the iPhone 18 Pro’s bill of materials could rise about 38% year over year, largely due to memory inflation and TSMC’s 2nm chip costs. That makes some segmentation understandable as a margin-protection move, not just a sales tactic. So the stronger reading is that Apple may be using delay, pricing and feature separation to steer buyers toward Pro models, while making the iPhone 17 look unusually attractive. Whether the regular iPhone 18 is truly a downgrade will depend on final display quality, chip performance and price, none of which Apple has confirmed.

2 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Aug 18

A staggered iPhone 18 rollout could leave the regular model until early 2027, prompting BGR to argue buyers should get an iPhone 17 now rather than wait through a longer cycle.
TrendForce says the iPhone 18 Pro could cost 38% more than its predecessor, and BGR says Apple may also raise the current $799 iPhone 17 after the September launch to offset memory costs.
Apple trade-in values also typically fall after new iPhones arrive; current offers run as high as $720 for an iPhone 16 Pro Max and $335 for an iPhone 15.
Leaker Fixed Focus Digital says the regular iPhone 18 may cut display brightness and GPU cores to align more closely with the cheaper 'e' line, even as it adds a new chip and modem.
BGR argues the iPhone 17 already offers 256GB base storage, a 120Hz always-on display and Apple Intelligence support, making it the safer value if prices rise.