iPhone 16 & 17 — UK vs New York Price Comparison

✉

To Min

iPhone recommendation · 15 Jun 2026

Hey Min,

Quick summary on the iPhone options. Budget is £750–£900, Pro model, 256GB — here's the honest answer:

The UK doesn't work for this budget. The cheapest Pro you can buy new in the UK is £999 (iPhone 16 Pro, discontinued and hard to find). Everything from Apple UK is over £1,000 for a Pro model. So if you want to stay under £900, buying in New York is the only real option.

My rec: iPhone 16 Pro 256GB from an NYC Apple Store — $1,197 including tax, which works out to about £891. That's £9 under the ceiling, and it gets you exactly what you need: Pro cameras, the A18 Pro chip, titanium build, and 256GB of storage. It's last year's model but it's still excellent — the 16 Pro and 17 Pro are more similar than the marketing suggests.

If you can stretch to £972, the iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (also NYC) is worth considering — bigger screen, noticeably better battery life, and the best camera system Apple makes at that price. The £81 extra buys a meaningful upgrade if the screen size appeals.

All prices are Apple Store in NYC (inc. 8.875% sales tax), converted at the current rate of $1 = £0.7446. No negotiation needed — Apple prices are fixed. Just walk in or order to a US address.

iPhone 17 Series — Current Lineup

iPhone 17

Size 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 US list 🗽 NYC + tax

128GB £799

$799

≈ £595

$870

≈ £648

256GB £999

$999

≈ £744

$1,088

≈ £810

iPhone 17 Pro

Size 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 US list 🗽 NYC + tax

128GB £1,099

$1,099

≈ £818

$1,197

≈ £891

256GB £1,299

$1,299

≈ £967

$1,414

≈ £1,053

512GB £1,499

$1,499

≈ £1,116

$1,632

≈ £1,215

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Size 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 US list 🗽 NYC + tax

256GB £1,199

$1,199

≈ £892

$1,305

≈ £972

512GB £1,399

$1,399

≈ £1,041

$1,523

≈ £1,134

1TB £1,599

$1,599

≈ £1,190

$1,741

≈ £1,296

2TB £1,999

$1,999

≈ £1,488

$2,176

≈ £1,620

iPhone 16 Series

iPhone 16

Size 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 US list 🗽 NYC + tax

128GB £699

$699

≈ £520

$761

≈ £567

⚠ Discontinued Sep 2025

iPhone 16 Pro

Size 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 US list 🗽 NYC + tax

128GB £999

$999

≈ £744

$1,088

≈ £810

256GB £1,099

$1,099

≈ £818

$1,197

≈ £891

512GB £1,299

$1,299

≈ £967

$1,414

≈ £1,053

1TB £1,499

$1,499

≈ £1,116

$1,632

≈ £1,215

⚠ Discontinued Sep 2025

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Size 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 US list 🗽 NYC + tax

256GB £1,199

$1,199

≈ £892

$1,305

≈ £972

512GB £1,399

$1,399

≈ £1,041

$1,523

≈ £1,134

1TB £1,599

$1,599

≈ £1,190

$1,741

≈ £1,296

Starting price summary — base storage tier

Model	🇬🇧 UK	🇺🇸 US list	🗽 NYC (inc. tax)	NYC in £	UK saves vs NYC
iPhone 17 Series — available now
iPhone 17 128GB	£799	$799	$870	≈ £648	UK +£151
iPhone 17 Pro 128GB	£1,099	$1,099	$1,197	≈ £891	UK +£208
iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB	£1,199	$1,199	$1,305	≈ £972	UK +£227
iPhone 16 Series
iPhone 16 128GB	£699	$699	$761	≈ £567	UK +£132
iPhone 16 Pro 128GBdiscontinued	£999	$999	$1,088	≈ £810	UK +£189
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GBdiscontinued	£1,199	$1,199	$1,305	≈ £972	UK +£227

💡 Even after New York's 8.875% tax, buying in the US is still significantly cheaper than the UK — around £130–£230 cheaper depending on the model. NYC tax narrows the gap but doesn't close it. The UK's 20% VAT is the dominant driver: it adds roughly double what NYC adds in tax. Buying on a UK visit vs a US visit doesn't make sense for US residents — NYC is the better deal by a wide margin.

UK prices: Apple.co.uk · US prices: Apple.com (Sep 2025 launch, MacRumors verified)
NYC tax: 4% NY state + 4.5% NYC + 0.375% MCTD = 8.875% total (electronics not exempt in NY)
iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max discontinued at iPhone 17 launch — launch prices shown · Exchange: $1 = £0.7446 (XE, 15 Jun 2026)

Top 3 picks · Pro model · 256GB · budget £750–£900

#1 Best pick within budget ✓

iPhone 16 Pro 256GB

Buy at NYC Apple Store

Pay in store £891

$1,197 inc. 8.875% tax £9 under ceiling

Pro camera, A18 Pro chip, titanium. Ticks every box at budget. Clear winner.

#2 Budget saver 128GB only

iPhone 16 Pro 128GB

Buy at NYC Apple Store

Pay in store £810

$1,088 inc. 8.875% tax £81 cheaper than #1

Same chip & cameras as #1. Worth it only if you use iCloud and rarely shoot 4K video.

#3 Stretch pick £72 over ceiling

iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB

Buy at NYC Apple Store

Pay in store £972

$1,305 inc. 8.875% tax £72 over budget

Bigger 6.9" screen, larger battery, Pro Max telephoto lens. Worth the stretch if screen size matters.