Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup and first foldable expected to launch at higher prices
Leakers and analysts say the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple's first foldable iPhone could be priced 10%-20% above earlier forecasts, potentially exceeding $2,000 in the United States.
Apple is expected to introduce its iPhone 18 Pro series and a first-generation foldable iPhone this September at prices higher than earlier estimates, according to several Chinese leakers. One source on Weibo said the foldable model could be priced 10% to 20% above prior expectations, while another leaker suggested the iPhone 18 Pro line may start at 9,999 yuan in China, roughly an 11% increase over the iPhone 17 Pro.
"Digital Chat Station" said it is "highly unlikely" the iPhone 18 Pro series will avoid a price increase.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reported that the foldable iPhone could break the $2,000 mark in the U.S., making it the most expensive iPhone to date. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo projected a base price of at least $2,000, possibly up to $2,500, with higher-storage variants potentially exceeding $3,000.
Cost analyses from research firm TechInsights indicate that component expenses for the iPhone 18 Pro may rise sharply, with DRAM costs projected to increase from $39 to $145 per unit, pushing the bill of materials up about 25%. The Wall Street Journal estimated that, after accounting for a new camera system, the starting price could be $1,399 or higher.
Apple recently announced price hikes on most of its product range, citing rising memory and storage chip costs. CEO Tim Cook described the cost pressures as a "hundred-year flood," noting that the company had previously absorbed such swings rather than passing them on to consumers.