The iPhone 18 series is shaping up to be one of Apple's most talked-about lineups yet, with fresh reports highlighting potential price increases for the Pro models and a major shift in launch strategy. There appears to be good news for Apple fans as well with regard to pricing — but there's a catch.
Potential Price Hike For iPhone 18 Pro Models
According to leaks from Korean tipster yeux1122, Apple may raise prices of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max due to surging costs for DRAM and NAND memory. This stems from memory manufacturers shifting focus towards AI server-grade components, driving up consumer-grade prices. Additionally, the upcoming A20 (or A20 Pro for higher-end models) chipset is rumoured to cost much higher than the A19.
While Apple has reportedly secured a supply deal with Samsung for RAM, the combined pressures could still push prices higher for Pro variants.
No Price Bump For Vanilla iPhone 18 — But Don't Rejoice Just Yet
The good news? Citing insights from Citigroup, Bank of America, and JPMorgan, yeux1122 suggests that the base iPhone 18 is expected to maintain the same starting price as its predecessor. Which should rev up the excitement right?
Maybe not. Higher-storage or higher-RAM configurations might see price bumps though. Also, Apple isn't tipped to launch the base iPhone 18 this year, and could release it only in spring 2027. The company is reportedly moving away from its traditional all-at-once September event and plans to prioritise premium devices first — which this year will be the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, along with the purported new iPhone Fold.
This means if you're planning to upgrade your iPhone this year, the economical door to the Apple universe might be closed, and you might either have to shell more for the Pro devices, explore the all-new foldable, or simply wait till 2027 for the entry-level iPhone 18.
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