The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have finally been unveiled and we managed to get our first real look, ahead of their launch next week. This means pre orders open in just under a day.
The new iPhone 15 starts at $799 for a 128GB model while the iPhone 15 Plus is $899. This is the same price point as last year
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 but the new iPhone 15 Pro Max is more expensive at $1,199. This is the case as Apple have entirely removed the 128GB Pro Max this year, essentially making it the same price as last year’s 256 model.
iPhone 15 Prices
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro Max | iPhone 15 Pro |
| 128GB | $799 | $899 | $999 | n/a |
| 256GB | $899 | $999 | $1,099 | $1,199 |
| 512GB | $1,099 | $1,199 | $1,299 | $1,399 |
| 1TB | Row 4 – Cell 1 | Row 4 – Cell 2 | $1,499 | $1,599 |
Last year’s iPhone 14
- iPhone 14: $799
- iPhone 14 Plus: $899
- iPhone 14 Pro: $999
- iPhone 14 Pro: $1,099
“There will be a couple of ways to get an iPhone 14 at a discount when the iPhone 15 arrives. First of all, head back over to those cell carriers, and see what new prices on slightly older devices they have available. There are lots of precedents for this: At the moment, you can pick up an iPhone 13 at a discount at the likes of AT&T and Verizon at some very competitive monthly rates and with significant discounts on full price.”
There were other models available for those who wanted to pay even less, but this is what customers had to pay for the best iPhones available when they arrived in September last year.
With that in mind, what are we expecting from Apple this time around and how much will people need to save to get the latest models?
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
Recent rumors suggest that Apple intends to keep pricing the same for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus when compared to the outgoing iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. That’s good news for anyone who wants to get into a new iPhone without going Pro. However, that might only apply to those buying in the United States — international buyers could be faced with a price increase of anywhere between $50 and $100, it appears.
With these models expected to borrow the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island and gain a 48-megapixel camera, they could be good upgrades for anyone using an older iPhone. And at these prices, Apple will have done well not to have increased them.
With that in mind, the following pricing is expected after September 12.
- iPhone 15: $799
- iPhone 15 Plus: $899
Unfortunately, the rumors suggest that we won’t be so lucky when it comes to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Those who skipped the iPhone 14 Pro and Iphone 14 Pro because of their prices won’t be rushing to buy the 2023 refresh, it seems.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
When it comes to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, it seems likely that a price increase will apply across both models no matter where you buy them, unlike the non-Pro models.
Barclays analyst Tim Long believes that the iPhone 15 Pro will garner a $100 price jump, while those buying the very biggest and best model, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, will pay even more. According to him, anything up to a $200 price hike is possible which would make that one very expensive iPhone.
Assuming Long is correct, this is what Apple’s 2023 Pro models will cost.
- iPhone 15 Pro: $1,099
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: $1,299
It’s possible that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will start at $1,199 however, and while that will still be a $100 price increase over last year’s model, it’s still better than a $200 one.
It also isn’t yet clear what will happen internationally. While Apple didn’t hike the price from iPhone 14 Pro to iPhone 15 Pro in the United States, some other countries weren’t so lucky. Will they also see their prices increase again, or is this year’s price increase only going to affect those in the U.S.? Time, as ever, will tell.
Trading in for an iPhone 15
Of course, if you have an older iPhone, you can trade that in with Apple in order to get some money off your new device, but there’s a knack to getting the best deal, as our buying guides expert Tammy can explain:
“The best time to trade in your old iPhone is fairly self-explanatory, although there are some points worth noting. Values of devices stay fairly constant and steady through the one-year life cycle, but once the new device has arrived they drop suddenly and severely.
To make sure you’re getting the most you should trade in early. In some cases, carriers and retailers will let you lock in trade-in prices before the release of a new iPhone, and let you keep using your old iPhone before handing it in when your new device is released.”
Of course, Apple doesn’t currently let you trade in the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro. But with just a few weeks to go before the iPhone 15 launches, Apple is offering the following estimated trade-in values. Bear in mind, this is the most you can expect to get from Apple, and the final price will depend not only on what spec of device you have (storage size, etc.), but also on whether the device is in working condition without damage, water ingress, and anything else.
- iPhone 13 Pro Max Up to $640
- iPhone 13 Pro Up to $530
- iPhone 13 Up to $420
- iPhone 13 mini Up to $330
Going up
While the amount of money that the Pro iPhone models will see their prices increase by is up for debate, it’s looking increasingly likely that an increase of some kind is a given at this point.
The result will be the least affordable iPhones ever, and while trading in an old model will help, there’s no denying that there will be some sticker shock to be had this year.
Thankfully, the new models should have plenty to help soften the blow. A new design that replaces the mute switch with an Action button beckons, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to get a new camera. The rumored periscope camera upgrade will offer improved zoom capabilities the likes of which no iPhone has been able to muster to date. And we can of course expect upgraded Apple silicon this year, too.
Apple is expected to announce all four new iPhones in September, likely alongside the Apple Watch Series 9, a refreshed Apple Watch Ultra, and a new Apple Watch SE. It’s bound to be an expensive month for some.