Apple is preparing for a new wave of high-priced iPhone models this autumn, alongside efforts to make their premium devices more accessible through upgraded trade-in values and leasing programmes, signalling a shift towards a more upmarket and flexible pricing approach.
Apple is laying the groundwork for a pricier iPhone cycle this fall, with the lower-cost iPhone 18 reportedly being held back until spring. That would leave the Pro models and Apple’s first foldable iPhone Ultra to headline September, a lineup that could come with unusually high starting prices, according to 9to5Mac.
To soften that impact, Apple has introduced the Apple Upgrade leasing programme in the United States through Klarna, the company said in July. The plan lets eligible customers lease iPhones on 12- or 24-month terms, with monthly payments starting at $17.99, and gives them the option to upgrade, return the device or buy it outright at the end of the term. AppleCare is sold separately, but AppleCare One can help bundle protection more cheaply.
Apple has also lifted trade-in values across much of its range. On its website, the company increased the maximum estimate for an iPhone 16 Pro Max to $720 from $695, while the iPhone 16 Pro rose to $630 from $560. Those credits can be used either on a normal purchase or through Apple Upgrade, which could trim the advertised monthly cost of a new phone.
The company is also broadening the pool of Android users it can target. Updated trade-in lists now include more models from Google, Samsung and OnePlus, such as the Pixel 9 line, Galaxy S21 Ultra, OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R. None of these moves makes the next flagship phones cheaper, but they do make the price easier to absorb just as Apple appears set to push its most expensive handsets further upmarket.
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