Copyright The Street
It’s safe to say that Apple’s (AAPL) 2025 turned out to be a statement year. Case in point is its stellar stock market run this year, with the company topping $4 trillion in market value, pushing it into an elite group alongside the likes of Microsoft and Nvidia. The past six months, in particular, lifted the stock’s performance, as investors warmed to a clearer iPhone narrative, stronger supply chains, and a services business that continues to compound. Moreover, China, long seen as Apple’s pressure point, continues showing signs of balance again. Healthier demand, improving customer sentiment, and expanding eSIM adoption across local carriers indicate a more sustainable recovery, despite mixed regulatory signals. It’s clearly a reminder that the Cupertino giant still knows how to leverage global complexity to its advantage. All of this builds toward CEO Tim Cook’s iPhone 17 pitch, which is aimed squarely at customers, and not just the tape. His comments carry implications for how Apple views its next phase of expansion, as well as what it truly wants from its customers this time. Tim Cook’s iPhone 17 pitch blends smarter tech with friendlier math Apple’s biggest day of the year lived up to its billing, and so did Cook. In a conversation with CNBC’s Jim Cramer in New York City ahead of the iPhone 17 launch, the Apple CEO made a direct appeal to customers’ wallets and their loyalty, along with what is shaping up to be the most consumer-friendly iPhone cycle in years. Cook leaned on the trade-in math early. More Tech Stocks: Senior analyst lifts Palantir stock price target with a catch Nvidia just scored a massive AI win, but CEO Huang has regrets Apple’s iPhone 17 story just took an unexpected turn Analysts revamp Salesforce stock forecast after key meeting “You can get a phone for free in some cases, depending on your carrier and the model you bring in,” he told Cramer, emphasizing that trade-in values are tracking higher than before, without any tariff-driven price increases being passed onto customers. For Apple, that’s a double play, where it’s targeting affordability without margin pressure while offering customers a shot at premium tech. The CEO also talked about day-one availability, noting that Apple Stores have been “stocked for walk-ins.” This is backed by long lines forming across Dubai, China, and India. The subtle signal shows the supply chain kinks from earlier cycles are behind them, and demand is back with a bang. On product mix, Cook kept it punchy. The iPhone 17 Pro gets an all-new design backed by a “next-level” camera, along with robust performance, while the Air model delivers Pro-grade speed coming with an ultra-thin frame. “We’re giving people choice without compromise,” he said. On top of that, Cook dropped hints of “everyday AI” covering nifty features such as live translation in AirPods and Center Stage framing, along with portrait-held and landscape selfie capture. Perhaps the more important part of the pitch was health, which remains the cornerstone of Apple’s ecosystem. The company plans to notify nearly one million people of possible hypertension through their Apple Watches this year, something Cook feels is reflective of Apple’s “commitment to technology that serves people first.” Takeaways on Apple iPhone 17 Pro: Trade-ins go big: Superior values, along with carrier promos, make the iPhone 17 upgrade a lot more affordable, even free in some cases. Global demand is real: Apple says stores have been stocked and lines are already forming from Dubai to India. Smart without the hype: Everyday AI and health features make the iPhone 17 lineup more useful than ever before. iPhone 17’s trade-in math just got a major upgrade After several years, it seems owning last year’s iPhone might actually pay off. According to SellCell, the iPhone 17 (256GB) has depreciated just 37.8% in value since launch, compared to a 48.6% slide seen with the iPhone 16 (128GB) over the same period. The superb step-up in value retention is a signal that the secondary-market floor is healthier, which keeps trade-in quotes a lot firmer for longer. It also helps that early sell-through is running hotter. Data from Counterpoint highlight that iPhone 17 revenues are up 14% compared to iPhone 16 during the first 10 days across the U.S. and China, with the base model 17 experiencing a 50% increase in China. Stronger demand propels resale bids, with a growing appetite for the latest hardware. Additionally, wait-time trackers reflect the momentum. UBS Evidence Lab highlights lead times are six days longer year over year for Pro Max, three days longer for Pro, and roughly 18 days longer for the base model, while JPMorgan pegged launch lead times at 21 days (Pro Max) and four days (Pro/base), underscoring a tighter supply-demand balance in comparison to last year. Throw in the tremendous U.S. carrier incentives — up to $1,100 in bill credits — which point to perhaps the most trade-in-friendly cycle Apple’s ever run. Apple iPhone 17 carrier trade-in snapshot:
