Apple increases iPhone prices by as much as 11% in Japan.
Apple has increased the prices of all iPhones available through its online store in Japan. This price hike includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with increases reaching up to 11.3%.
This adjustment follows a global price rise for Mac and iPad products just a month ago, attributed to the ongoing memory shortage. However, this latest increase seems primarily related to the declining value of the Japanese yen.
What are the new iPhone prices?
The starting price for the iPhone 17 has risen from ¥129,800 to ¥142,800. The iPhone Air saw the largest jump, increasing from ¥159,800 to ¥177,800, or around 11.3%.
The iPhone 17 Pro now costs ¥194,800, up from ¥179,800, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max's price has increased from ¥194,800 to ¥214,800. The iPhone 17e has gone from ¥99,800 to ¥107,800, and the iPhone 16 has increased from ¥114,800 to ¥124,800.
ModelStorageOld PriceNew PriceIncrease
iPhone 17 Pro Max256GB¥194,800 (~$1,199)¥214,800 (~$1,322)¥20,000 (~$123)
iPhone 17 Pro256GB¥179,800 (~$1,106)¥194,800 (~$1,199)¥15,000 (~$92)
iPhone 17256GB¥129,800 (~$799)¥142,800 (~$879)¥18,000 (~$111)
iPhone Air256GB¥159,800 (~$983)¥177,800 (~$1,094)¥18,000 (~$111)
iPhone 17e256GB¥99,800 (~$614)¥107,800 (~$663)¥8,000 (~$49)
iPhone 16256GB¥114,800 (~$706)¥124,800 (~$768)¥10,000 (~$62)
These updated prices are already reflected on Apple’s Japanese online store (via iPhoneros). So far, there have been no similar increases for iPhones in the US or other major markets.
What’s driving the price increase?
While Apple has not provided a specific reason for this change, currency exchange rates are likely at play. The Japanese yen recently fell to its lowest point against the US dollar since 1986, raising the cost of imported goods for companies operating in Japan.
Once Japan’s 10% consumption tax is factored out, the adjusted prices are quite close to what Apple charges in the US. The iPhone 17 Pro Max's price equates to around $1,204 before tax, compared to the US price of $1,199. Meanwhile, the iPhone Air is nearly identical at approximately $995 versus its US price of $999.
Apple has previously adjusted prices in response to significant currency fluctuations, making this increase not an uncommon occurrence. However, it coincides with a broader trend of price hikes, including recent increases for Apple Music and certain Apple One bundles, as well as higher prices for AppleCare+ for new Mac and iPad customers.
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Apple increases iPhone prices by as much as 11% in Japan.
Apple has increased iPhone prices in Japan by as much as 11.3%, probably due to the significant drop of the yen in comparison to the US dollar.
