[DigitalToday reporter Seung-ah Yoo] Apple has raised prices by $100 for its previous-generation iPhones currently on sale.

On Sept. 9 (local time), multiple foreign media outlets including Engadget reported that Apple stressed at its iPhone Duo event that prices for some new products did not rise, but it broadly adjusted upward prices of iPhones it had been selling.

The price increases apply to the iPhone 16, iPhone 17E, iPhone 17 and iPhone Air that Apple continues to sell in its online store. The iPhone 16 rose to $799 from $699. It returned to its 2024 launch price before discounts that were applied after the iPhone 17 release.

The iPhone 17E rose to $699 from $599, and the iPhone 17 to $899 from $799, each up $100. The iPhone Air also rose to $1,099 from $999. The iPhone 17E and iPhone 17 figures are starting prices for 256GB models.

By contrast, Apple highlighted at the event that it kept prices of some new products the same as previous models. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 start at $399 and $799, respectively. Apple’s official announcement also confirms the Apple Watch Ultra 4 U.S. price at $799.

As a result, consumers now have to pay more than before even when buying older iPhones that had been seen as a relatively cheaper choice. In particular, the iPhone 16 returned to its launch price as discounts ended, and the iPhone 17E is $100 higher than the $599 set earlier this year.

This price adjustment differs from the usual approach of cutting prices for older models after new products are released. Apple has already raised prices for some products such as Macs and iPads this year in response to rising memory and storage prices. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook (Tim Cook) also said in June that price increases were inevitable due to higher memory and storage prices.

The rise in memory and storage prices is analysed as being influenced by a surge in demand for related components driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. Apple has also said it can no longer absorb sharp increases in component prices on its own.

With this adjustment, Apple’s overall iPhone price range has moved up a notch. Consumers choosing existing models are also in a situation where they must pay higher prices than before, just like for new products.