When CEO Tim Cook takes the stage at the rumored fall Apple event next month, all eyes will be on the new iPhone 16 model that is scheduled to be unveiled But don't take your eyes off the existing iPhones

The launch of the new iPhone will mean a reshuffling of Apple's phone lineup, with some current models disappearing and the remaining models seeing price cuts What makes this year's release even more intriguing is the fact that only two of the current models to be announced this year will support the Apple Intelligence feature And that could affect which models remain

In short, if you're thinking of buying an iPhone now, you may want to pass on the new iPhone 16 model, even if you have no plans to consider it (Well, hold off if your wireless provider doesn't offer an upgrade deal too good to pass up) That's because the iPhone model you may have your eye on now could be available at a discount in just a few weeks

With current reports (not yet officially confirmed by Apple) that the iPhone 16 will be available on September 10, what could happen to the existing iPhone lineup, including new prices Apple might charge for current phones, once the iPhone 16 model is released Here's what could happen

To review, let's briefly consider the new models Apple is expected to announce in September There are two models: the standard iPhone 16, the larger-screen iPhone 16 Plus, and the iPhone 16 Pro: the 63-inch iPhone 16 Pro and the 69-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max

There was also talk of the iPhone 16 Ultra joining Apple's new offerings However, such rumors have died down, and at this point, there is almost no chance of an Ultra model being introduced

Pricing for the iPhone 16 may not change from what Apple charges for the equivalent iPhone 15 model, and the new model is likely to start at $799 The one exception might be the iPhone 16 Pro, which one rumor suggests will get a $100 price hike, bringing its starting price to $1,099 Given that some people are hesitant to pay more than $1,000 for a phone, this move would be unwise on Apple's part

Assuming Apple keeps the current price on the new iPhone 16 model, it is a pretty good idea what will happen to the current iPhones that are part of Apple's lineup Even though Apple likes to maintain an air of mystery in its product announcements, there is a fairly recognizable pattern to its product announcements, which provides a starting point for speculating about price changes for current models

After the debut of the iPhone 16, every phone that is part of Apple's lineup will likely drop in price by $100 The only exception is Apple's cheapest phone, the iPhone SE Apple is putting its mid-range phones in a class of their own, so its $429 cost is unlikely to be affected by the release of the iPhone 16 A price change for this model is not expected until the iPhone SE 4, which many believe will be released in 2025

Instead, if Apple keeps this phone as part of its mobile device lineup, the model most likely to see a price cut is the iPhone 15 iPhone 15 is Apple's entry-level flagship model, and the iPhone 16 is attractive to bargain hunters even after its introduction If Apple follows the same pattern as the iPhone 14 after the release of the iPhone 15 last year, the price of the iPhone 15 will drop $100 to $699

Speaking of the iPhone 14, it is likely to become a fixture in the iPhone lineup, as Apple tends to sell its flagship models for up to two years after their initial release iPhone 14 will drop in price by $100 to $599

The wildcard may be the iPhone 15 Plus Apple currently sells the iPhone 14 Plus, which dropped $100 to $799 last fall This is the same price as the standard iPhone 15 While it is possible that Apple will pull a similar move with the iPhone 15 Plus, the company may also decide not to cannibalize iPhone 16 sales by offering a larger screen device at the same suggested price as the new model

The iPhone 13 remains in the $599 slot in Apple's iPhone lineup for now This fall, the iPhone 13 will celebrate its second birthday; it is rare for a two-year-old model to remain in Apple's lineup

The fate of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max has not been mentioned In the past, Apple has kept Pro phones alive for only one year and discontinued them when a new Pro phone was released If this pattern continues with the launch of the iPhone 16, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will live on borrowed time

However, both iPhone 15 Pro models are equipped with the A17 Pro chipset, making them the only current iPhones that can support the Apple Intelligence All four iPhone 16 models are functionality will be able to run, but one would think that Apple would have an incentive to keep at least one current Pro model if it were to put AI functionality into the hands of more users

Assuming a $100 price cut for the current Pro model, the iPhone 15 Pro would cost $899 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max would cost $1,099 The price cut for the iPhone 15 Pro is theoretically the same price Apple would charge for the iPhone 16 Plus Since it will be the same, it is possible that Apple will reduce the price of the current Pro model However, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could fall right in between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro This would give prospective upgraders another option without necessarily eating into iPhone 16 Pro sales

Assuming the rumored September 10 date for Apple's product event is genuine, it won't be long before we learn which current iPhones will remain on sale and how the company will adjust prices In the meantime, if you hold off on buying a new iPhone, you may be able to enjoy the new model at a much lower price than you are paying now