Apple Cuts iPhone 17 Pro Prices in Israel by $90 Ahead of iPhone 18 Launch
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Apple has directed its Israeli importers to cut iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max prices by $90 starting August 20, 2026, reversing recent price hikes on other products. This comes ahead of the expected September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models, which face higher production costs due to a global memory chip shortage.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Apple cuts iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max prices in Israel by $90 starting August 20, 2026.
- Price reduction reverses recent 15%-25% hikes on iPads and MacBooks due to chip shortages.
- Memory chip costs surged over 90% in Q1 and 60% in Q2 2026, causing global tech price pressures.
- iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max expected to launch in September with nearly 40% higher production costs.
- Rumors suggest a new foldable iPhone and a base iPhone 18 model in spring 2027.
- Uncertainty remains if older iPhone prices will drop further after the new launch.
Apple has instructed its Israeli importers, including iDigital, KSP, and iStore, to reduce the prices of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max by $90 starting Thursday, August 20, 2026. This price cut amounts to approximately 270 shekels based on the current exchange rate. The move comes as a surprise, reversing the company's price hikes from less than two months ago, when Apple increased iPad and MacBook prices by 15% to 25% due to a surge in memory chip costs.
The earlier price increases were attributed to a global shortage of memory components, a crisis dubbed "RAMageddon," driven by high demand from server farms supporting artificial intelligence models. According to TrendForce, memory chip prices rose over 90% in the first quarter of 2026 and an additional 60% in the second quarter.
Apple is expected to unveil the next generation of iPhone Pro models, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in September 2026, with rumors also suggesting a new foldable iPhone. The base iPhone 18 model is anticipated to launch in spring 2027. Production costs for the new Pro models are estimated to be nearly 40% higher than the current generation, which could lead to price increases for the older iPhone 17 models in the near future.
For now, consumers in Israel benefit from the immediate price reduction on the iPhone 17 Pro series, providing a more affordable option before the new models arrive. The tech community remains uncertain whether Apple will follow its usual pattern of lowering previous generation prices when the new iPhones are released.
