Khaberni - The worst news about the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro came directly from Apple CEO Tim Cook, with the next flagship Apple phones being more expensive.
In fact, many accurately predicted this scenario, especially those closely following the technology industry over the last ten to fifteen months.
But in reality, this decision makes sense for "Apple," and not just because of the significant increase in the cost of components and raw materials impacting various electronic devices, according to a report by "Phone Arena", a site specializing in smartphone news, which was reviewed by "Al Arabiya Business".
As Tim Cook himself pointed out, there are “massive increases” in costs being loaded onto “Apple”. The outgoing CEO stated that the company tried to "protect" its customers from these increases, but the situation has become "unsustainable".
And rising iPhone prices were almost inevitable, considering that we currently live in what could be described as "memory price catastrophe" era, which displeases almost everyone, as it has led to a significant increase in component prices, all due to the surge in artificial intelligence and data centers which are receiving the majority of memory production.
For instance, the average price of a 64GB "DDR5" memory bundle jumped from about $200 in early and mid-2025 to nearly $1,000 today.
Smartphones have not been spared from this wave, as consumers directly felt the price hikes. "Xiaomi" raised prices on some of its phones, and the Galaxy S26 was launched early in 2026 with a $100 increase.
Before that, the price of iPhone 17 Pro also increased by $100, from $999 to $1,099.
What about an iPhone priced at $1,399?
If things continue this way, we might see the iPhone 18 Pro Max starting at $1,399 in September.
For example, the starting price of the iPhone 17 Pro was $1,099, featuring a storage capacity of 256GB and 12GB of RAM. According to Mike Howard, director of memory markets at "TechInsights", the cost of these components could rise sharply soon.
Estimates indicate that "Apple" spent about $39 on a 12GB random memory bundle in the iPhone 17 Pro, but this figure could rise to $145 in the iPhone 18 Pro. The cost of storage could also increase, with the basic capacity of 256GB possibly going from about $13 to $51.
Overall, the raw materials and manufacturing cost for the iPhone 18 Pro could rise from about $530 to $726. And since "Apple" achieved a profit margin of 47% from the iPhone 17 Pro, this might raise the starting price for its successor to about $1371.
"Apple" usually prefers clear, rounded prices, so it might opt for a starting price of $1,299.
But this estimate does not include any potential upgrades to the camera. If the cost of the new camera system is about 50% higher than the current system, the final price at launch could reach $1,399. If this happens, the price will likely only apply to the Pro Max model, while the smaller model could remain at $1,299.
In 2026 better than 2027
For this reason, it might be smart for "Apple" to absorb the shock of prices this year instead of delaying it. But these high prices could negatively impact the sales of the iPhone 18 series.
There is a limit to how many times consumers can be persuaded with terms like "artificial intelligence" or "thinner design" or "better cameras" before they decide that their current phones are still good enough. And a $1,399 price tag for the iPhone 18 Pro Max might constitute a psychological barrier for many buyers, and "Apple" is well aware of this.
But 2027 looks to be a crucial year for "Apple", as it will mark the twentieth anniversary of the iPhone launch. Reports suggest that the company is preparing to offer something special for this occasion. Whether the device is called the iPhone 20 or any other name, anniversary devices are expected to excite consumers.
Thus, raising prices now might give the company more room to maneuver. By 2027, component prices might have stabilized, allowing Apple to maintain the prices of the iPhone 20 series at the same levels as they will introduce with the iPhone 18 series.
