by Tim Hardwick
Update: Apple has announced its iPhone 15 series lineup. For pricing information, be sure to check out our iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro announcement coverage.
Apple's new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will be unveiled at the company's "Wonderlust" event on Tuesday, September 12. The question is, how much will they cost?
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
Like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models last year, the iPhone 15 will be a 6.1-inch device, while the larger iPhone 15 Plus will be a 6.7-inch device. We expect to see a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port on all of the iPhone 15 models, and the Dynamic Island is going to be available for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus in addition to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. That means Apple will be doing away with the notch that it has used since the iPhone X for the flagship iPhone lineup for a sleeker, less intrusive design.
No Price Change?
We don't know with complete certainty what prices Apple will set for its new flagship iPhone models, but no price increase is expected for the standard iPhone 15 models, and the entry level iPhone 15 model should be priced starting at $799. Even so, given historic inflation in the U.S. and the fact that the iPhone 15 will have the same starting price as the iPhone 12, which was released in 2020, it could be argued that the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 will be the most affordable base iPhone model Apple has ever offered.
Based on current iPhone 14 pricing, then, here's what we expect the following configuration options to cost in the United States:
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone 15 - 128GB | $799 |
| iPhone 15 - 256GB | $899 |
| iPhone 15 - 512GB | $1,099 |
| iPhone 15 Plus - 128GB | $899 |
| iPhone 15 Plus - 256GB | $999 |
| iPhone 15 Plus - 512GB | $1,199 |
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
Similar to last year's high-end iPhone 14 Pro models, the iPhone 15 Pro is a 6.1-inch device and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be a 6.7-inch device. Likewise, Apple will reserve premium features for the Pro models that are supposed to justify the higher price tag. The iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to include some minor design updates, with Apple introducing thinner, curved bezels and a new titanium material for the chassis that will replace the stainless steel. Apple is also expected to add a redesigned "mute" button that could actually serve as an Action button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
An upgraded 3-nanometer A17 chip will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, making them faster and more power-efficient. Like the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro models will also transition from Lightning to USB-C, but the Pro lineup will include an upgraded USB-C port that features faster USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds. Apple is also expected to use a more advanced telephoto camera lens that will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Higher Pro Prices?
In contrast to the vanilla iPhone 15 models, reports have converged on a price increase for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max this year. A July Bloomberg report suggested Apple has been contemplating raising the price for both Pro models in its upcoming iPhone 15 series, echoing an earlier prediction by Jeff Pu, a tech analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities. Pu believes the iPhone 15 Pro could be priced starting at $1,099, up from the $999 starting price of the iPhone 14 Pro. If that's accurate, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be priced starting at $1,199.
Since then, subsequent reports appear to indicate that a price increase of this sort could be on the cards. According to Taiwan-based outlet DigiTimes, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be at least $100 more expensive than their predecessors. DigiTimes' forecast places the price of the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 to $1,199 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,199 to $1,299.
However, while rumors have been circulating about a $100 price increase for both iPhone 15 Pro models, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce recently predicted that the smaller 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro will start at $999 in the U.S., just like the iPhone 14 Pro, and that the estimated $100 price increase might be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
There were early reports that Apple could boost the capacity of its iPhone 15 Pro models compared to last year. According to one rumor, the iPhone 15 Pro models could support up to 2TB of storage, which would be double the capacity of the iPhone 14 Pro models that are limited to 1TB storage at maximum. The sam source also suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro models will start at 256GB of storage, rather than 128GB.
However, according to MacRumors' sources, both rumors appear to be incorrect. MacRumors has now confirmed that Apple has tested 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage configurations for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Given the above findings, the following table outlines the prices we might expect to pay this year for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models in the United States:
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro - 128GB | $999 to $1,099 |
| iPhone 15 Pro - 256GB | $1,099 to $1,199 |
| iPhone 15 Pro - 512GB | $1,299 to $1,399 |
| iPhone 15 Pro - 1TB | $1,499 to $1,599 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max - 128GB | $1,099 to $1,199 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max - 256GB | $1,199 to $1,299 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max - 512GB | $1,399 to $1,499 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max - 1TB | $1,599 to $1,699 |
- When Will the iPhone 15 Be Released?
- Will My Current iPhone Run iOS 17?
For all the details of what we can expect from the four new iPhone 15 models, be sure to check out our dedicated iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro roundups.
Related Roundups: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 15 (Neutral), iPhone 15 Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone
Top Rated Comments
smash1231
24 weeks ago
Bet Europe is getting stiffed again. Euro got stronger since last year I strongly doubt Apple wil ever take that into account. Always raising prices when the Euro falls but never drop prices when the opposite happens. Europeans are always paying more even if you remove the VAT .
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The-Real-Deal82
24 weeks ago
Classic Apple under Tim Cook. iPhone sales have been falling since the iPhone 7 (around the time they stopped reporting sales numbers and only reported revenue) so to compensate, Apple has been pushing the average selling price (asp) higher and higher. If the storage doubles, then yes there is little price increase, but more people who would have bought the $999 128GB model are now pushed to the $1099 256 GB model increasing the asp and probably counteracting the loss in sales from people who don't want to pay the extra. This tactic has been very positive for Apple from 2016-2021 or so as overall revenues have increased, but there is only so far you can go before sales fall off a cliff: for every fan boy who states they would quite happily pay $2k for the latest iPhone, there will be many people who are just priced out, even on a monthly payment.
I couldn't agree more with your post, and it is something I have also been saying for a long time here, but am often told I am wrong. This forum is a bit of a vacuum as enthusiasts see things very differently to those who use iPhones in general, but aren't necessarily fans as such. I have never encountered another brand that is so applauded and admired whenever they raise prices or stiff us on incremental updates. I have certainly changed my approach to upgrading since prices have shot up and I know many people have also.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kiranmk2
24 weeks ago
If the Pro iPhones get a $100 increase in prices but also get bumped up to 256gb base storage, I’d be perfectly happy with that move personally.
The consequence though is it'll hurt Apple too as less people will upgrade, whether that is masked by the extra costs or not. Many here will tell you sales are less important than 'profit', so I am sure Apple are trying to get people to keep iPhones longer by putting us off with the price.One question I have never got an answer to with US prices is the maximum sales tax that is applied on top of an iPhone price. We discuss prices here and the pre VAT price is always suggested at British posters, but how much is an iPhone in the US, what is the final cost? Does anyone have any idea?
Classic Apple under Tim Cook. iPhone sales have been falling since the iPhone 7 (around the time they stopped reporting sales numbers and only reported revenue) so to compensate, Apple has been pushing the average selling price (asp) higher and higher. If the storage doubles, then yes there is little price increase, but more people who would have bought the $999 128GB model are now pushed to the $1099 256 GB model increasing the asp and probably counteracting the loss in sales from people who don't want to pay the extra. This tactic has been very positive for Apple from 2016-2021 or so as overall revenues have increased, but there is only so far you can go before sales fall off a cliff: for every fan boy who states they would quite happily pay $2k for the latest iPhone, there will be many people who are just priced out, even on a monthly payment.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma
24 weeks ago
I shouldn’t be the only one who’s going to quietly (and unhappily) pay whatever Apple asks this year, but then see through all the cashgrab and see Apple as just a milker company. My passion for Apple is falling rapidly. I’ll have their products, but do so with caution - not just throwing around money to them whenever they ask for it. I’ll be upgrading when it’s absolutely necessary.
If you own any model released in the past five years, or alternatively, any model still supported by iOS 17, then realistically there’s no need to buy a new one, other than GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cranslove
24 weeks ago
I’m all in for a (hefty) price hike for the pro models. I won’t be purchasing one of those anyway.
A price hike in the US is inevitable. Certainly with the current inflation. Although yet another price hike in Europe and Asia will hurt them more.
A medium spect iPhone will cost roughly 60/65% of a monthly salary already. The prices in the UK and Europe are insane. But I guarantee they will hike it up another 100€/£. Shame they went full cashgrab years ago.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RickDEGH
24 weeks ago
The problem with bumping up, for example, the base storage to 256gb and equally increasing prices by 100€/$/£ is that price difference between a 128gb and a 256gb storage is not 100€/$/£. What then does the customer pay for, when everything else is the same?
I shouldn’t be the only one who’s going to quietly (and unhappily) pay whatever Apple asks this year, but then see through all the cashgrab and see Apple as just a milker company. My passion for Apple is falling rapidly. I’ll have their products, but do so with caution - not just throwing around money to them whenever they ask for it. I’ll be upgrading when it’s absolutely necessary.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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