A rumor is spreading that Apple may raise prices on its currently sold iPhone 17 within this week, even ahead of next month’s expected unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Fixed Focus Digital, a leaker account on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, said in a recent post that word is circulating about a possible iPhone 17 price change taking effect August 10. However, the account stopped short of stating definitively that a price hike would actually happen, making clear this was only a rumor at this stage.

A different part of the same post drew even more attention. The leaker claimed Apple recently scrapped plans to expand utilization at some production lines from 15% to 30%, and spoke about that detail with more confidence than the pricing rumor itself. It wasn’t made clear which components or models this referred to, but industry watchers have connected it to potential adjustments in iPhone 17 production volume. Tech outlet 9to5Mac noted that no direct evidence was provided for the rumor, but added that the leaker carries some credibility given a track record of accurate information in the past, including correctly naming the “iPhone 16e.” AppleInsider similarly noted that Weibo-sourced rumors aren’t always accurate, while acknowledging this particular account’s history of hits.

What makes this rumor notable is its timing. In June, Apple raised prices across most of its product lineup — including Mac, iPad, and Apple TV 4K — citing sharp increases in memory and storage costs. iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, Studio Display, and various accessories were excluded from that round of hikes. The prevailing view in the industry was that Apple’s next price adjustment would coincide with the September unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro. If this rumor proves true, however, it would mean an unusual scenario in which the price of an existing model, the iPhone 17, moves roughly a month before the new lineup is even announced.

Behind this lies a shared underlying factor: surging memory chip prices. China’s Xiaomi previously raised prices on its Redmi series and Xiaomi 17 lineup by as much as 13%, citing rising memory chip costs, with Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing explaining that memory prices for comparable specifications had nearly quadrupled year-over-year. Apple also cited rising memory and storage costs when it raised prices in June — but left the iPhone untouched at that time. If iPhone 17 pricing is indeed adjusted now, analysts suggest it could signal that Apple isn’t entirely immune to the pressure of rising memory costs either.

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There’s also an interesting angle on the production side. Some outlets report that Apple is having difficulty securing enough RAM for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone, reportedly dubbed the iPhone Ultra. Under this theory, reducing iPhone 17 production would free up limited memory components to be prioritized for the next-generation lineup. Reports earlier this year already suggested iPhone 17 production had fallen by around 15%, lending weight to the idea that broader supply chain adjustments are underway, in step with this latest news about the scrapped production expansion plan.

Current iPhone 17 lineup pricing stands at $599 for the iPhone 17e, $799 for the iPhone 17, $999 for the iPhone Air, $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro, and $1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Even if a price increase does materialize, it remains unconfirmed whether it would apply across all five models or only to select ones. Some markets, including Japan, have reportedly already seen price increases across the entire iPhone 17 lineup; if the same trend spreads to other major markets, it would mark an unusual case of raising prices on an existing model ahead of a new product launch.

There’s also talk of a possible price increase for the iPhone 18 Pro series itself. Market speculation suggests the base iPhone 18 Pro could start above $1,399 — notably higher than the current iPhone 17 Pro starting price of $1,099. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone next month, while the standard, more affordable iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to be dropped from this fall’s lineup and launch separately in spring 2027. Given this timeline, the iPhone 17 is likely to remain Apple’s mid-range mainstay for a considerable stretch even after the new lineup arrives — another reason cited for why Apple might adjust iPhone 17 pricing independently of the new product launch. Still, all of this remains at the level of leaked information rather than an official Apple announcement, so the actual likelihood and scale of any price change should be treated with caution until Apple makes an official statement.