iPhone Price History: Base Model US Starting Price
The US unlocked starting price of the base iPhone was $899 as of Oct 2026, according to dated official price changes. That is 12.5% higher than a year earlier. Since January 2018 ($699), it is up 28.6%. In our data, which starts Sep 2014, the highest price was $899 (since Sep 9, 2026) and the lowest was $649 (Sep 9, 2014).
iPhone Price History since Sep 2014
iPhone, base model (US unlocked starting price). Monthly values, step series. Weight in the Real Inflation index: 1.2%.
iPhone price: every recorded change
| Effective | Price | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2014 | $649 | iPhone 6 16GB; off-contract; SlashGear/CNET/MacRumors (Newsroom: $199 on contract) | |
| Sep 9, 2015 | $649 | 0.0% | iPhone 6s 16GB; off-contract; 9to5Mac/iMore |
| Sep 7, 2016 | $649 | 0.0% | iPhone 7 32GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 12, 2017 | $699 | +7.7% | iPhone 8 64GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 12, 2018 | $749 | +7.2% | iPhone XR 64GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 10, 2019 | $699 | -6.7% | iPhone 11 64GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Oct 13, 2020 | $829 | +18.6% | iPhone 12 64GB; unlocked; MacRumors/The Verge (headline $799 with AT&T/Verizon activation) |
| Sep 14, 2021 | $829 | 0.0% | iPhone 13 128GB; unlocked; The Verge (Newsroom $799 with carrier) |
| Sep 7, 2022 | $799 | -3.6% | iPhone 14 128GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 12, 2023 | $799 | 0.0% | iPhone 15 128GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 9, 2024 | $799 | 0.0% | iPhone 16 128GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 9, 2025 | $799 | 0.0% | iPhone 17 256GB; Apple Newsroom |
| Sep 9, 2026 | $899 | +12.5% | iPhone 17 256GB (price increase; base iPhone 18 not launched); MacRumors 2026-09-09, The Verge 2026-09-09, GSMArena 2026-09-10; apple.com store showed iPhone 17 from $899 on 2026-10-12 |
Price in January of each year
| Year | January price | vs year before |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $649 | |
| 2016 | $649 | 0.0% |
| 2017 | $649 | 0.0% |
| 2018 | $699 | +7.7% |
| 2019 | $749 | +7.2% |
| 2020 | $699 | -6.7% |
| 2021 | $829 | +18.6% |
| 2022 | $829 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | $799 | -3.6% |
| 2024 | $799 | 0.0% |
| 2025 | $799 | 0.0% |
| 2026 | $799 | 0.0% |
Source
Download the full history (CSV, item_id
iphone_base)Notes and caveats
- Starting US price of the standard (non-Pro, non-Plus) iPhone in base storage, at full unlocked/off-contract price. Step series from each launch month. The spec changes every year (model, chip, base storage 16GB to 256GB). 2014-15 Apple Newsroom only listed 2-year-contract prices ($199), so off-contract prices come from press. 2020-21 Apple's headline price ($799) needed carrier activation; the unlocked price was $829.
FAQ
How much is the base iPhone now?
The US unlocked starting price of the base iPhone was $899 as of Oct 2026 (+12.5% vs a year earlier). Source: Official announcements and press coverage (dated price changes).
How much was the base iPhone in 2018?
In January 2018 the US unlocked starting price of the base iPhone was $699. Since then it has changed +28.6%.
When was the base iPhone most expensive?
In our data (starting Sep 2014), the highest price was $899 (since Sep 9, 2026). The lowest was $649 (Sep 9, 2014).
When did the price of the base iPhone last change?
The most recent change in our data took effect Sep 9, 2026: from $799 to $899 (+12.5%). We have 12 recorded changes since Sep 9, 2014.
Why did the base iPhone price go up in 2026?
On Sep 9, 2026 the starting US price of the base iPhone 17 (256GB) rose by $100, from $799 to $899. Press reports (MacRumors, The Verge, GSMArena) said Apple cited memory-chip costs. A base iPhone 18 had not launched when we recorded the change.
How often is this page updated?
We re-check this item on every weekly refresh and record each official change with its effective date.