Hello everyone, and welcome back to ManhHao PC. I’m your host, Manh Hào. In our last episode, we explored the design choices and compromises behind the iPhone 17 lineup — with the ultra-thin iPhone Air on one side and the powerful but bulky iPhone 17 Pro on the other.

Today, we’re continuing that conversation by looking at something just as important as design and features: the price. Because for the first time, Apple is pushing the iPhone closer to the two-thousand-dollar mark.

Let’s rewind a bit. Back in 2017, Apple introduced the iPhone X. Not only did it change the look of smartphones with edge-to-edge displays and Face ID, but it also set a new benchmark: the one-thousand-dollar phone. At the time, that number shocked the industry. But over the past eight years, Apple held prices relatively steady, even as inflation and technology moved forward.

Fast forward to 2025, and the iPhone 17 Pro starts at just $1,100 — only a hundred dollars more than the iPhone X. The standard iPhone 17 sits at $800, again about a hundred higher than its counterpart eight years ago. Even the new iPhone Air, replacing the Plus model, costs $900. Modest increases, all things considered.

But here’s where things change. The iPhone 17 Pro Max now comes with a massive 2-terabyte storage option. And with it, Apple has crossed a line: the $2,000 smartphone. This is the first time an iPhone has reached that level, and it may signal a new era for premium devices.

Analysts believe Apple wouldn’t set such a price unless they were confident enough people would pay it. After all, the iPhone is no longer just a phone — it’s a wallet, a health tracker, a smart home controller, and for many, the single device they rely on every day. CEO Tim Cook himself has said customers are willing to spend as much as possible to get the best iPhone available.

Now, this shift doesn’t just affect the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Rumors suggest Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone could also land in the two-thousand-dollar range, lining up with rivals from Samsung and Google that already hover between $1,800 and $2,500. If the Air serves as a design testbed, it’s possible the foldable will borrow heavily from it — and carry a price tag at least double.

Looking even further, insiders talk about a 20th anniversary iPhone that could mirror the leap of the iPhone X back in 2017. If the iPhone X created the $1,000 category, this future model might cement the $2,000 tier.

So while Apple may have raised prices modestly this year, the message is clear: the days of the thousand-dollar flagship as the ceiling are fading. The iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB might just be the start of a whole new pricing era.

And that’s where I’ll leave it for today’s episode of ManhHao PC. Last time, we asked whether Apple compromised too much on design and AI. This time, the question is different: are we ready for the age of the two-thousand-dollar iPhone?

Thanks again for tuning in. I’m Manh Hào, and I hope you enjoyed this follow-up look at the iPhone 17 story. Be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss our next discussion. Until then, stay curious, and I’ll see you in another episode.