{"id":2091,"date":"2026-09-20T08:34:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T08:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/2026\/09\/20\/iphone-18-pro-launch-price-hikes-refurbished-17-pro\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T08:34:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T08:34:47","slug":"iphone-18-pro-launch-price-hikes-refurbished-17-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/2026\/09\/20\/iphone-18-pro-launch-price-hikes-refurbished-17-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"iPhone 18 Pro Launch Spurs Price Hikes, Refurbished 17 Pro Units Remain Costly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Quick Adsense WordPress Plugin: http:\/\/quickadsense.com\/ -->\n<div class=\"9fece8afa224fd09e54b043d0febfb58\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- NR ATF -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8898941184964366\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"4839033563\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>Apple rolled out the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this week, making the devices available in the United States and in 64 additional countries as part of the first wave of the new generation. The launch arrives without a companion vanilla iPhone or Air model, and the much\u2011anticipated iPhone Duo will not appear until late October, more than a month after the Pro models hit shelves.<\/p>\n<h2>Pricing and Availability of the iPhone 18 Pro Line<\/h2>\n<p>The new Pro models carry a $100 premium over the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max price points from the previous year. Apple followed its usual practice of discontinuing the prior\u2011generation Pro devices on its website as soon as the 18 series was announced, leaving only the non\u2011Pro models to remain listed for longer than a year. Third\u2011party retailers, however, continue to stock the older Pro handsets.<\/p>\n<p>Historically, a September launch brings both Pro and standard models, with the older vanilla phones receiving a $100 price cut while the older Pros are retired. This year deviates from that pattern: no new vanilla or Air models have been introduced, and the existing non\u2011Pro phones have actually seen a $100 price increase. For example, the iPhone 17 Pro started at $1,100 for a 256\u202fGB configuration last year; a $100 hike would align its price with the new iPhone 18 Pro\u2019s $1,200 starting point.<\/p>\n<p>The iPhone 18 Pro is powered by Apple\u2019s first 2\u202fnm chipset, the A20 Pro, which Apple describes as a \u201cbeast.\u201d It also features a smaller punch\u2011hole for the FaceTime camera and Face ID system, a variable aperture, and an improved fast\u2011charging capability that reaches 50\u202f% battery in 15\u202fminutes, down from the 20\u2011minute window required by the 17 Pro. The Cosmic Orange colorway, noted for its popularity, tends to be the most affordable among the new options.<\/p>\n<h2>Refurbished iPhone 17 Models Command Premium Prices<\/h2>\n<p>Amazon\u2019s Renewed Premium program defines a refurbished device as one without visible scratches from a 12\u2011inch distance, free of cosmetic damage, equipped with at least 90\u202f% battery health, and supplied with a cable and SIM ejector. Under those criteria, a one\u2011year\u2011old iPhone 17 Pro with 256\u202fGB storage can be purchased for just under $1,000, compared with its original $1,100 launch price.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which launched at $1,200 for the same storage size, now sells as a refurbished unit for the identical $1,200 amount. Walmart\u2019s pricing mirrors Amazon\u2019s, highlighting a market situation where older flagship phones can cost as much as, or more than, they did when brand new.<\/p>\n<p>Apple\u2019s current lineup still includes the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17e on its website, with base 256\u202fGB models priced at $900, $1,100, and $700 respectively after the recent price adjustments. When compared to new units, refurbished versions of these models are generally cheaper, offering a cost\u2011effective alternative for buyers seeking Apple hardware without the premium of a fresh purchase.<\/p>\n<h2>Samsung Foldable Line Offers Discounted Alternatives<\/h2>\n<p>While Apple focuses on its Pro lineup, Samsung is promoting discounts on its 2026 foldable smartphones, which launched in August. The Galaxy Z Fold8, positioned as the primary rival to the upcoming iPhone Duo in the U.S., is thinner (9.7\u202fmm vs. 11.3\u202fmm) and lighter (201\u202fg vs. 254\u202fg) while retaining a comparable internal screen size. It sports a 5.5\u2011inch 4:3 cover display, a Snapdragon\u202f8\u202fElite Gen\u202f5 for Galaxy processor, a 50\u202fMP main sensor (1\/1.56\u202f\u201d), a 50\u202fMP ultra\u2011wide lens, and two 10\u202fMP selfie cameras using punch\u2011hole apertures. Unlike the Duo, the Z Fold8 lacks stylus support.<\/p>\n<p>The larger Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra also undercuts the Duo\u2019s weight at 215\u202fg, offering an 8\u2011inch inner display with roughly 17\u202f% more surface area and a 6.5\u2011inch 21:9 cover screen that is easier to handle single\u2011handed. Its dimensions when folded (72.8\u202fmm wide) are narrower than the Duo\u2019s 84.1\u202fmm. Camera specifications include a 200\u202fMP main sensor, a dedicated 10\u202fMP 3\u00d7 telephoto lens, and a 50\u202fMP ultra\u2011wide camera.<\/p>\n<p>For users seeking a more compact foldable, Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Z Flip8 folds down to a 85.7\u202f\u00d7\u202f75.4\u202f\u00d7\u202f13.1\u202fmm \u201cpuck\u201d and weighs 180\u202fg. It features a 4.1\u2011inch cover display and a 6.9\u2011inch 21:9 inner panel, with a camera array comprising a 50\u202fMP main sensor (1\/1.57\u202f\u201d), a 12\u202fMP ultra\u2011wide lens, and a 10\u202fMP selfie camera.<\/p>\n<p>Apple also introduced new accessories and devices alongside the iPhone 18 Pro launch. Official cases in TechWoven, Silicone, and Clear materials all support MagSafe, and the company released the AirPods\u202f5, Apple Watch Series\u202f12, and Apple Watch Ultra\u202f4 during the same week. While the iPhone Duo remains slated for a late\u2011October debut, the current pricing dynamics and Samsung\u2019s discounted foldables provide consumers with a range of high\u2011end options across the premium smartphone market.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apple&#8217;s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max debut with a $100 price bump, while refurbished iPhone 17 Pros still sell near or above their original prices, and Samsung offers discounted 2026 foldables.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[299],"tags":[1570,2220,2221,2222,1602],"class_list":["post-2091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-apple","tag-iphone-18","tag-refurbished-phones","tag-samsung-foldables","tag-smartphone-pricing","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsraise.com\/in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}