Buy iPhone or Apple stock is a question many people are asking as the iPhone 17 arrives in stores. The phone costs around $999 (Dh3,670). But some wonder if putting the same money into Apple shares would be a smarter choice.
The comparison tells a clear story. In 2007, the first iPhone launched for $499 (Dh1,830). At that time, Apple shares traded at only $4.36 (Dh16). If someone had skipped the new phone and bought stock, they could have owned about 114 shares.
Today, in 2025, those shares are worth about $236 (Dh867) each. The total value would be nearly $26,904 (Dh98,600). That is enough to buy many iPhones — or even cover school fees or a vacation. Meanwhile, that original iPhone has little value unless kept unopened in its box.
Apple has raised prices steadily. From $649 for the iPhone 6 in 2014 to $999 for the iPhone X in 2017, and now back at $999 for the iPhone 17. Each new phone offers status and features. But resale prices drop quickly.
Apple stock, on the other hand, has compounded value for investors. With stock splits in 2014 and 2020, long-term shareholders saw their wealth multiply.
The lesson is simple. A phone brings daily use and style. But shares bring long-term growth. As the iPhone 17 launches, the big question remains: buy iPhone or Apple stock?
