Apple is expected to unveil its new generation of iPhones next month, with the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first-ever foldable iPhone taking centre stage. While we are hearing a lot of whispers about what could be inside the new flagships, there are also concerns about a possible price hike. Due to the ongoing memory and storage costs surging, Apple has already increased prices of its MacBooks and iPads. Now the iPhone 18 series could be next in line to take the hit.
Apple has kept the starting price of its iPhone line-up pretty much the same over the last few years. However, the latest Counterpoint Research report suggests that could change this year, with Apple potentially using a storage-based pricing strategy and higher-capacity models seeing bigger price increases. The report says Apple could decide how much of the higher component costs it passes on to buyers, while absorbing some of the increase through pricing changes, services and other cost-saving measures.
How much will the iPhone 18 Pro cost?
So, how much could the iPhone 18 Pro cost? Report points to a possible price increase, particularly for higher-storage models. The report estimates that the 256GB and 512GB variants could face around US$200–250 in additional component costs, while the highest-end iPhone 18 Pro Max with 12GB RAM and 1TB storage could see roughly US$300 in additional costs compared with its predecessor.
In India, that could mean a price increase of around Rs 20,000–25,000 for the affected models, if Apple passes on the full cost increase. For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro started at Rs 1,34,900 in India, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max started at Rs 1,49,900.
Why Apple could make the iPhone 18 Pro series more expensive
The main reason behind the possible price hike is rising component costs. Counterpoint says Apple is facing higher costs for memory and storage, while the move to 2nm-based A-series chips is adding further pressure. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be powered by an A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process.
The report estimates that the new chip technology could add around US$200–250 to manufacturing costs for the 256GB and 512GB models, while the highest-end iPhone 18 Pro Max with 12GB RAM and 1TB storage could see its costs rise by around US$300 compared with its predecessor.
However Apple may not pass the entire increase on to buyers. Reports suggest that the iPhone maker may use a tiered pricing strategy, with higher-storage models potentially seeing bigger price increases while entry-level variants get a smaller bump. This could help Apple manage the rising costs without pushing the starting price too high.
The report also points to other ways Apple could absorb some of the pressure, including its services business, supplier negotiations, cost cuts on components such as displays and cameras, and leasing or financing options. There is also a possibility that Apple could eventually monetise Apple Intelligence, although the report says the company’s AI offering is not yet ready for that.
In short, Apple has not confirmed anything yet. The rising cost of building the iPhone 18 Pro series could put pressure on Apple to charge more, and the storage option you choose could determine just how much more you pay.
