Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17 lineup in just three months. Amid all the tariff fiasco, speculation has it that the company will potentially increase the price of the upcoming models. Counterpoint now expects iPhone sales in the United States to fall year-over-year, hinting that the sudden price surge will take a toll on demand. Apple and Tim Cook have been battling against tariff costs for a while, and no matter where the company spreads its bases outside the United States, the Trump administration appears to put pressure on local production.
Apple to raise the price of the iPhone 17 lineup amid massive tax impositions, causing slower market growth in the United States
Counterpoint Research says that it is expecting Apple to pass on some of the tariff costs to customers, which will increase the price of the forthcoming iPhone models. This also suggests that while some costs are passed on to the end users, the rest of them are borne by Apple, which will allow the prices to be higher than the current models but lower than the actual cost.
Counterpoint initially expected the global smartphone market to grow by 4.2 percent this year, but given how the U.S. tariffs are having a major impact on the rising cost of production and imports, the research firm has reevaluated the forecast to 1.9 percent. In the United States, Counterpoint claims that both Samsung and Apple will see lower sales compared to last year due to "expected price rises from tariffs."
Counterpoint Research has revised down its 2025 global smartphone shipment growth forecast to 1.9% YoY from 4.2% YoY, citing renewed uncertainties surrounding US tariffs.
Most regions are expected to grow, except North America and China. North America is expected to decline due to expected price increases from tariffs. China has been revised down to near-flat YoY growth on weaker-than-expected market reaction to the government’s subsidy program.
Apple and Samsung’s growth projections have been revised down as cost increases are expected to be passed on to consumers, hurting demand — this despite some easing of the tariff burden compared to earlier worst-case scenarios.
President Trump announced a hefty amount of tariffs on imports and then paused the decision, which remains to be unpaused for the future. The decision has yet to take effect amid concerns regarding existing tariffs, which could already have a dire impact on the sale of smartphones in the U.S. The research firm also claims the forecast would be further reduced if the tax situation worsens.
Counterpoint Research’s current forecasts assume a relatively stable tariff environment through 2025, although the escalating rhetoric and uncertainty around trade policy could significantly impact OEM pricing strategies, supply chain planning, and, ultimately, consumer demand.
The market for Apple is uncertain at this point, and until the company announces its next-gen iPhone 17 models, we can safely presume that the prices are expected to rise. However, we are not certain how much the prices would increase, but based on rough estimates, the company could easily raise the prices by $100, which would make the iPhone 17 Pro Max $1,299 for the base model.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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