Wilson Rothman sorts iPhone shoppers into two camps: those who already know their model, and those left baffled by the lineup. This fall, the baffled have a point. Apple (AAPL) now sells phones from $799 to $1,999 and up, and several older models got $100 pricier. Here’s his guide to the lineup, plus the part that matters most for a household budget: how to pay.
Which iPhone fits whom
The new iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 and arrives Oct. 23. Devoted Apple fans may preorder before reading a single review, which Rothman says makes more sense than lining up first for a Vision Pro. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $1,199 and $1,299 and arrive Sept. 18. They’re for avid photographers, a group he says includes doting parents. The upgrade over last year’s Pro is modest, but they promise even better battery life and a standout camera.
Then there’s the iPhone Air, now starting at $1,099. “If you are a weirdo, then you want the iPhone Air,” he writes. At the budget end, the $899 iPhone 17 has a slightly bigger screen, plus better battery life and cameras, than the $699 17e or the $799 iPhone 16. He can’t see why the 16 is still sold; if the 17 doesn’t appeal, he says, get the 17e. Every model supports Apple Intelligence and USB-C, and reputable refurbished phones deserve a look.
Cash, carrier or lease
Rothman counts himself among the cash buyers who like having no strings attached. Still, he notes that carrier installment plans remain among the cheapest ways to borrow in an age of elevated interest rates. A $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro adds $33.30 a month for 36 months. Illustration only: 36 payments of $33.30 total about $1,199. Trade-in discounts can be huge, but they’re doled out over the same three years. Carriers like locking in long-term customers, and they’ll front the money to do it.
Apple’s new leasing program replaces iPhone Upgrade and runs 12 or 24 months. A 24-month lease on a 17e starts at $19.99 a month; the 18 Pro runs $34.99 and the Duo $57.99. At the end, you return the phone in good working condition or buy it. AppleCare+, once bundled in, now costs extra.
Our view: even cheap financing is a monthly charge that outlasts most people’s attention. If the cash is there, paying it means the phone is done costing you when you leave the store.