Tech giant Apple has shocked tech fans by suddenly increasing the prices of its existing smartphone lineup, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 16, and iPhone Air. Instead of lowering the rates of older models after launching new devices like the iPhone 18 Pro Apple has done the exact opposite, pushing prices up significantly across global markets and India.
In India, the price hikes have hit buyers hard. The popular iPhone 17, which previously started at Rs 82,900, has jumped to Rs 99,900, marking an increase of Rs 17,000. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 has risen by Rs 20,000 to Rs 89,900, and the sleek iPhone Air saw a massive price jump of Rs 30,000, now costing Rs 1,49,900. Experts point out that this unusual move is driven by a global semiconductor squeeze known as chipflation.
Why Memory Shortages and AI Booms Are Making Phones Costlier?
The primary reason behind this sudden price hike is the heavy global demand for memory and storage chips. Enormous data centers built to power generative artificial intelligence are consuming massive amounts of DRAM and NAND chips. This creates a severe shortage for consumer electronics companies like Apple.
With memory component costs climbing sharply, manufacturers can no longer absorb the manufacturing expenses. For Indian consumers, high import duties, local taxes, and the currency conversion rate further add to the financial burden, making India one of the markets with the steepest price hikes. As tech companies continue to deal with rising production costs, buying a premium smartphone has officially become much more expensive.
