Apple's newly released iPhone 17 has become nearly 50% cheaper when priced in Bitcoin or Ethereum compared to last year's model, according to data from CoinGecko. The iPhone 17 now costs just 0.0072 BTC, down from 0.014 BTC for the iPhone 16. Similarly, it requires only 0.1866 ETH compared to 0.3386 ETH for the previous model.
This price reduction in crypto terms is driven entirely by the appreciation of Bitcoin and Ethereum, not by any price cuts from Apple. Bitcoin's price nearly doubled from $57,049 during last year's iPhone 16 release to $111,033 during the current launch cycle. Ethereum saw an even more dramatic gain, jumping from $2,359.57 to $4,282.40 - an increase of over 80% in the past year.
The trend extends across Apple's entire lineup. The new iPhone Air costs 0.0090 BTC, while the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max require 0.0099 BTC and 0.0108 BTC respectively.
Historical context reveals an even more dramatic story. When Apple released the iPhone 4S at $649 in 2011, the equivalent cost in Bitcoin was more than 162 BTC (when BTC traded around $4 each). Today, despite a higher $799 price tag, the iPhone 17 requires less than 0.008 BTC - a 99.9% reduction in Bitcoin needed to buy a flagship iPhone over 14 years.
Ethereum shows a similar trajectory. In 2015, an iPhone priced at $649 translated to roughly 876 ETH. Ten years later, the new iPhone can be bought for less than a fifth of a single ETH.
The purchasing power comparison becomes even more striking when looking back eight years. In early 2017, Bitcoin traded around $1,000 while the iPhone X launched at $999, meaning one Bitcoin could get you one iPhone. Today, with Bitcoin at approximately $112,000 and the new iPhone 17 starting at $799, one Bitcoin can buy 140 iPhones.
Bitcoin's price has increased 2,700% since September 2017, while iPhone prices have remained relatively stable with inflation adjustments. The iPhone 17 base model costs $799, which is $200 less than the iPhone X's launch price eight years ago when adjusted for inflation.