Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max costs R52k in South Africa vs R30k in United States

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about trending online stories.

Listen below: 

Apple’s latest iPhone lineup, comprising the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and the all-new iPhone Air, is now available for pre-order, with cash prices listed across various retailer websites.

Unveiled during Apple’s 'Awe Dropping' event on 9 September 2025, the iPhone 17 series debuted alongside the iPhone Air, Apple’s first ultra-slim smartphone offering 'pro-level' performance in a sleeker form factor.

The prices around the world are 'staggering', says Friedman.

• iPhone 17 (Base model) – From R20,799

• iPhone 17 Pro – From R28,499

• iPhone 17 Pro Max – From R30,999

• iPhone Air – From R25,999

Content creator Dylan Page recently shared a video comparing iPhone 17 prices by directly converting US dollar prices into local currencies across different countries.

Inspired by this approach, Friedman calculated the direct conversion price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in South Africa, which comes out to about R52,000.

"I don't think the iPhone is what it used to be. I don't think that the gap between the iPhone and other products like the Samsung is as significant. I think they've come a lot closer," she says.

Scroll up to the audio player to hear the full conversation.