Apple’s next-generation flagship, the iPhone 18 Pro, could launch with its steepest price increase in years as escalating component costs pressure the tech giant’s supply chain. Industry reports and analyst estimates, including research from GF Securities and Bloomberg, indicate that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models could see price increases between $200 and $300, potentially pushing the starting price of the entry Pro model to $1,399. The expected surge is primarily driven by soaring manufacturing expenses for TSMC’s next-generation 2nm A20 Pro processor alongside a sharp global rise in DRAM and NAND memory prices, largely spurred by intense demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. While Apple historically absorbed minor cost fluctuations on flagship smartphones, recent price adjustments across its Mac and iPad lines suggest the company is increasingly likely to pass these hardware expenses onto buyers. With higher component expenditures threatening hardware margins, market analysts warn that the prospective price bump could temper consumer upgrades despite anticipated performance gains, camera enhancements, and expanded on-device AI capabilities ahead of the expected launch.
