Apple increased the prices of the iPhone 17 by 10% in Japan as the yen approaches a low not seen in four decades.
Summary: Apple has increased the prices of the iPhone 17 in Japan by approximately 10% due to the weak yen. The price of the iPhone 17 Pro with 256GB storage has risen by 8.3%. This decision follows a previous global price hike for Macs and iPads.
According to a Bloomberg report on Saturday, the starting price for the base 256GB iPhone 17 model is now ¥142,800 ($879), an increase from ¥129,800. The iPhone 17 Pro with similar storage now costs ¥194,800 after an 8.3% rise. Prices for Apple Watch and AirPods have also seen a hike of up to 10%. A spokesperson for Apple in Japan declined to provide any comments on the price changes.
The price increase is largely attributable to the yen's continued decline, lingering at about ¥162 to the dollar, which is near its lowest point in 40 years. Retailers in Japan have been raising prices on imported goods as a result of the currency's weakness. Three weeks ago, Apple raised prices on Macs, iPads, and Vision Pro globally due to an ongoing shortage of memory chips, but that adjustment did not apply to iPhones, AirPods, or Apple Watch. The price increase in Japan is specifically a response to currency fluctuations.
Currently, there are no indications that Apple plans to raise iPhone prices in other countries. However, the combination of a weak yen and the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting Japanese consumers, as the depreciation of the currency makes imports pricier while the global memory crisis increases component costs for all device manufacturers. Although Apple produces 25% of its iPhones in India, the supply chain for memory and displays remains tied to markets priced in dollars, indicating that the yen's weakness poses a long-term cost issue rather than a short-term one.
Other articles
Apple increased the prices of the iPhone 17 by 10% in Japan as the yen approaches a low not seen in four decades.
The iPhone 17 is priced at ¥142,800 in Japan, an increase from the previous price of ¥129,800. Additionally, the prices of the Apple Watch and AirPods have increased by up to 10%. This comes after a separate price increase for Macs and iPads worldwide.
