A couple of months ago, when Apple announced plans to raise prices across its product lineup, the iPhone did not make the list, to the relief of many. Unfortunately, it seems like it was a short stay of execution. According to analyst Jeff Pu, the price of the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to increase over its predecessor.
iPhone 18 Pro price to increase
So the question is, how much more are customers expected to pay? According to Pu, it could be substantially more. Based on the analyst’s estimates, he believes the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could be priced $250-$300 more than the previous models.
As a bit of context, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are priced at $1,099 and $1,199 respectively. Of course, this is just the starting price. If you opt for the models with more storage, then expect to pay even more. But either way, this means that the iPhone 18 Pro could be priced starting at $1,350 just for the base model. We’d hate to think how much the other models will cost.
Pu claims that the increase in price is partly due to Apple’s use of TSMC’s 2nm process for its A20 chipset. Also, let’s not forget that the ongoing memory crisis has pushed memory like DRAM and NAND up to astronomical levels. Put those together and you’ve got yourself a really expensive iPhone.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently defended the company’s hike in prices, saying that they were reluctant to do so. However, it felt like a platitude, especially in the face of Apple’s record iPhone sales.
Is Apple doing anything about it?
Apple is in dangerous territory with this rumored price increase. Many have griped about the rising cost of smartphones, and this jump could be Apple’s largest yet. If they price it too aggressively, it could alienate customers who might have otherwise gladly upgraded their iPhones.
According to the rumors, Apple is already working to try to find ways to lower costs. This includes potentially turning to Chinese memory suppliers. Unfortunately, this might not be easy. The US government has blacklisted a number of these companies. While Apple could legally still buy memory from them, it could result in political backlash.
This means that Apple needs to weigh the risks. They need to decide if keeping customers happy is worth the ire of the US government.
The post Bad News for Buyers: iPhone 18 Pro Price Hike Rumors Take a Dark Turn appeared first on Android Headlines.
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