September 11, 2026 — Apple just wrapped its biggest September event in years. The iPhone Duo finally entered the foldable market, the iPhone 18 Pro series debuted the 2nm A20 Pro chip, and the Apple Watch and AirPods lines received meaningful updates .

But here's the thing most buyers are discovering: this is a terrible time to buy an older iPhone. Since the September event, prices for the iPhone 17 series have gone up, not down. In China, the iPhone 17 lineup saw price increases of up to 800 RMB. In the US, prices rose by $100. In Hong Kong, by HK$900 .

The reason? Memory chip costs are surging, and Apple is passing those costs to consumers — even on last year's models. Meanwhile, Apple has another wave of products coming in October: new Macs, new iPads, and updated smart home devices .

So the question becomes: should you wait for October's new products, or buy now before prices go higher? And if you do buy now, is there a smarter way to save money without sacrificing quality?

What's Coming in October: 7+ New Products

According to a 9to5Mac report published on September 9, Apple is preparing to launch more than seven new products in October . The lineup spans Mac, iPad, and smart home categories.

Old Models Are Getting More Expensive, Not Cheaper

Normally, when Apple releases new iPhones, older models get cheaper. That's not happening this year.

Since the September 9 event, prices for the iPhone 17 series have increased across multiple markets :

The root cause is the ongoing memory shortage. AI demand has led memory manufacturers to shift production toward HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and enterprise products, reducing supply for consumer devices. Morgan Stanley predicts mature DRAM prices will rise another 50% in Q3 2026 .

For Apple, this means the cost of building an iPhone has gone up — even for models that are now a year old. Rather than absorbing those costs, Apple has chosen to pass them to consumers.

Buying Guide: Wait for New or Buy Now?

The right decision depends on what you're buying and what you value.

Category-by-Category Recommendations

iPhone

Mac

Wait for October. Apple is expected to announce the M6 MacBook Pro, M6 iMac, and possibly a touchscreen MacBook. If you need a Mac now, the current M5 MacBook Pro remains excellent — but if you can wait a few weeks, the M6 models will offer better performance and longevity.

For current Mac pricing, visit our Mac notebook collection.

iPad

Wait for October. The OLED iPad mini is expected to be a significant upgrade. If you need an iPad now, the current iPad Air M4 is still a solid choice — but the OLED mini will likely be worth the wait.

Apple Watch

Buy now. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 were just announced and won't be updated again until late 2027. Current pricing is stable.

AirPods

Buy now. The AirPods 5 (both ANC and non-ANC versions) just launched. No further updates expected until 2027.

A Smarter Option: Brightstar iPhone 17 Series

If you want a genuine iPhone at a lower price — and you're comfortable trading Apple's official warranty for Gzmato's own — the Brightstar (B.S.) iPhone 17 series is worth considering.

Why Choose Brightstar?

• Genuine Apple devices — same production lines, same quality checks
• Significantly lower price — because there's no Apple warranty
• Gzmato limited warranty included — you're not unprotected
• Optional GzmatoCare+ coverage — from ~$30 for 1-year extended protection
• Repair support at a fraction of Apple's cost — we've been repairing these devices for over a decade

Browse Brightstar iPhones →

GzmatoCare+: Peace of Mind Without the Apple Premium

Since Brightstar iPhones don't carry Apple's official warranty, GzmatoCare+ is our own 1-year extended coverage plan designed to close that gap. For an investment of roughly $30–$60 depending on device value, it removes the risk of paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket for an out-of-warranty hardware repair .

GzmatoCare+ activates automatically upon purchase — no registration required. Coverage runs for 12 months from your order date. Read full GzmatoCare+ terms →

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