According to a recent research note by Jeff Pu, a tech analyst at Haitong International Securities, the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are likely to be more expensive than previous Pro models.
Pu predicted that the rumored hardware upgrades, such as a titanium frame, solid-state buttons with haptic feedback, an A17 Bionic chip, increased RAM, and a periscope lens for increased optical zoom on the Pro Max model, will drive up the prices of the new devices.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max to be more expensive than previous models, analyst predicts
This is not the first time a price increase for the iPhone 15 Pro models has been rumored. In January, an unverified claim on the Chinese social media platform Weibo also suggested that the new models would be more expensive than their predecessors. However, whether Apple will actually raise prices for the devices remains to be seen.
In the United States, the Pro model has started at $999 since the iPhone X was released in 2017, while the Pro Max has started at $1,099 since the iPhone XS Max launched the following year. It’s worth noting that outside of the U.S., Apple has increased the prices of iPhones multiple times in recent years due to foreign currency fluctuations. For example, in the U.K., the iPhone 14 Pro starts at £1,099, compared to £949 for the iPhone 13 Pro.
Given the current above-average inflation rates, a price increase for the iPhone 15 Pro models in the U.S. is plausible. Although Apple has managed to keep starting prices unchanged for six successive generations of Pro models, prices will likely have to increase eventually for the company to maintain its profit margins.
It’s unclear whether the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus would also see a price increase over the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, which currently start at $799 and $899, respectively.
In conclusion, while it remains uncertain whether the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will actually be more expensive than their predecessors, the rumored hardware upgrades suggest that a price increase is plausible. With the expected announcement of the iPhone 15 series in September, fans and consumers will soon find out the official prices and features of the new devices.
(via MacRumors)
