As iPhone 18 series launch nears, one of Tesla’s biggest investor Ross Gerber says that ‘now is a good time’ to buy iPhone 17 as Apple …
Ross Gerber, co-founder, president and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management and one of Tesla’s most prominent individual investors is now telling consumers that if they are in the market for a new iPhone, then they may want to move before Apple’s next-generation lineup arrives. In a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) Gerber said that Apple’s iPhone 17 sales remain robust despite rising hardware prices. “In the Apple Store, they told me sales are as good as ever even with higher prices,” Gerber posted on X.
What Tesla’s biggest investor Ross Gerber said
In a post on X over the weekend, Gerber said iPhone sales remain strong despite rising prices across Apple’s broader hardware lineup, noting that staff at an Apple Store told him sales were as good as ever even with higher pricing elsewhere in the product range. He pointed out that Apple has held the iPhone 17’s price steady so far, and suggested that anyone considering a new iPhone 17 might want to buy now rather than wait.The iPhone 17 currently starts at $799 for the 256GB model in the U.S., with the iPhone 17 Pro starting at $1,099 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,199.“In the Apple Store, they told me sales are as good as ever even with higher prices. The current iPhone 17 price has not gone up but it will in September with the new models… so current iPhone sales are quite good. If you’re looking for a new iPhone 17… now is a good time. $AAPL,” wrote Gerber.
Apple iPhone 18 could face higher costs
Industry analysts warn that the upcoming iPhone 18 may carry higher costs due to soaring memory prices. TrendForce estimates the bill of materials for the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro could rise by 38% compared with the iPhone 17 Pro. Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management has predicted Apple could raise prices by about $125, or 15%.
Apple’s pricing strategy
Apple has already raised prices across several products — including MacBooks, iPads, HomePods, and Apple TV — while keeping iPhone pricing unchanged. The company has warned that surging DRAM and storage costs are pressuring margins. Despite this, iPhone revenue in Apple’s fiscal third quarter reached $54.25 billion, up from $44.58 billion a year earlier, underscoring continued demand.
