Prices of Apple’s iPhone 17 series have dropped by around $150 in the Kurdistan Region. Retailers say the decline is linked to changes in Bitcoin’s value, which has influenced buying and selling activity in the mobile phone market.
Shaho Sharif, manager of the Izon company in Erbil, confirmed that iPhone 17 Pro Max now sells for about $1,100, while the iPhone 17 Pro is priced at $1,000. Last month, the prices were higher. The Pro Max model sold for $1,250, and the Pro version reached $1,150.
Sharif explained that mobile phone prices usually fall during the sixth and seventh months of the year. However, he said this year’s drop is stronger than usual. He linked the sharp decline to Bitcoin’s falling value. According to him, some traders convert mobile phones into cash and then invest in Bitcoin. Therefore, changes in cryptocurrency prices directly affect device prices.
In addition, Sharif noted that Apple’s iPad prices have remained stable. They have not experienced the same level of decline as iPhones. This shows that the price movement is not uniform across all Apple products.
He also compared the iPhone 16 Pro Max with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both models are currently priced at around $1,100. He said the similarity in price is related to differences in SIM technology. The iPhone 16 supports both eSIM and physical SIM cards. In contrast, the iPhone 17 uses only eSIM technology.
As a result, demand patterns have shifted in the local market. Some buyers prefer older models due to flexibility in SIM usage. Meanwhile, others wait for further price changes before making purchases.
Overall, the mobile phone market in the Kurdistan Region continues to respond quickly to global financial trends, especially cryptocurrency movements.
