iPhone 18 Pro price likely to increase by up to 20%

Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may cost more than before. According to media reports, the prices of both models are expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent.

TrendForce had predicted a 14 to 18 percent price increase in June, but the latest estimate puts the range at 10 to 20 percent. This would put the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,249 to $1,299, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be priced at $1,349 to $1,399.

The same report also revealed the possible price of Apple's first foldable iPhone, called the iPhone Ultra. Its starting price is likely to be between $2,099 and $2,299, while the price of the higher-storage model could exceed $3,000.

The regular iPhone 18 is not expected to launch until spring 2027, but TrendForce estimates that the price of this model could also increase by 10 to 20 percent.

The main reason for the price increase is said to be the unprecedented increase in memory costs. According to TrendForce, the price of a 256GB memory chip has increased by about 400 percent in a year, while the total bill of materials cost of the 256GB Pro model has also increased by about 38 percent.

Nevertheless, Apple is expected to bear the additional cost by reducing its profit margin somewhat rather than passing the entire burden of the additional cost on to consumers.

According to the report, Apple was able to avoid increasing the price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max last year, while the price of the iPhone 17 Pro in the US increased by $ 100 on an annual basis.

This time, massive investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure has driven up both the demand and price of memory, putting pressure on the entire electronics industry.

The final prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are likely to be revealed at Apple’s ‘Surprise and Sunshine’ event on September 9.