ⓘ Georgiy Lyamin
The successor to the pictured Apple iPhone 17 Pro could carry the same official price tag
Prices for DRAM and flash memory are rising fast, while TSMC’s advanced 2nm chip manufacturing is expected to be significantly more expensive than the 3nm processes. Despite these higher costs, an analyst is predciting stable prices for the Apple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Over the past few weeks, rumors have suggested that the successor to the iPhone 17 Pro could end up costing more. Apple’s RAM costs have reportedly doubled due to the DRAM crisis, while prices for NAND flash storage are also increasing.
In addition, the Apple A20 Pro processor that’s expected to power the iPhone 18 Pro could cost significantly more than the Apple A19 Pro, since the chipset is expected to be based on TSMC’s more advanced 2nm process in Taiwan. MacRumors now cites analyst Jeff Pu and reports that Apple could absorb these higher costs and accept smaller profit margins. Therefore, at least the base models of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to carry the same price tag as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
If those claims are true, the iPhone 18 Pro with 256GB of storage would cost $1,099, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max with the same storage would cost $1,199 in the US. In order to keep the impact of the higher costs on profit margins as small as possible, Apple could negotiate aggressively with its suppliers, especially DRAM makers SK hynix and Samsung. Apple might also have found ways to save money on other core components, including the display and cameras. The iPhone 18 lineup is expected to be unveiled in September.
Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.
Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 6300 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.