Apple to Raise iPhone 18 Pro Prices Due to 400% Memory Cost Surge

Apple faces higher iPhone 18 Pro prices due to a 400% surge in memory costs, though full pass-through is unlikely.

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from the fact record

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TrendForce reported that Apple will pay approximately four times more for memory components in the iPhone 18 Pro compared to the previous year's model. ^[1] On 2026-09-03, TrendForce, a market research firm, estimated that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,249 to $1,299 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,349 to $1,399, which is $150 to $200 higher than the iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099) and iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199). ^[2] Apple announced significant price increases across most of its products in June, stating it had no choice but to raise prices after delaying them as long as possible. ^[3] Memory costs for the 256GB Pro model are expected to be nearly 400% higher in the third quarter of 2026 than they were in the same period a year earlier. ^[4] TrendForce expects Apple to increase retail prices for the iPhone 18 Pro by around $100, rather than passing on the full impact of the memory cost surge. ^[5] Apple will announce the actual iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max prices at its 'Surprise and shine' event on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. ^[6] TrendForce expects the regular iPhone 18, when it launches, to also receive a 10-20% price increase. ^[7] TrendForce says the cost of a 256GB memory chip has risen nearly 400% year-on-year, and that the overall bill of materials for a 256GB Pro model is about 38% higher than a year earlier, which it cites as the reason for the price increases. ^[8]

What this stands on

TrendForce reported that Apple will pay approximately four times more for memory components in the iPhone 18 Pro compared to the previous year's model. · 9to5Mac

On 2026-09-03, TrendForce, a market research firm, estimated that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,249 to $1,299 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,349 to $1,399, which is $150 to $200 higher than the iPhone 17 Pro ($1,099) and iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199). · MacRumors

Apple announced significant price increases across most of its products in June, stating it had no choice but to raise prices after delaying them as long as possible. · 9to5Mac

Memory costs for the 256GB Pro model are expected to be nearly 400% higher in the third quarter of 2026 than they were in the same period a year earlier. · 9to5Mac

TrendForce expects Apple to increase retail prices for the iPhone 18 Pro by around $100, rather than passing on the full impact of the memory cost surge. · 9to5Mac

Apple will announce the actual iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max prices at its 'Surprise and shine' event on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. · MacRumors

TrendForce expects the regular iPhone 18, when it launches, to also receive a 10-20% price increase. · MacRumors

TrendForce says the cost of a 256GB memory chip has risen nearly 400% year-on-year, and that the overall bill of materials for a 256GB Pro model is about 38% higher than a year earlier, which it cites as the reason for the price increases. · MacRumors

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