Apple faces a potential price surge of up to 300 US dollars for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, driven by a severe memory crisis in the tech sector and the introduction of a two-nanometer chip, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities.
Consumers looking toward Apple’s smartphone lineup may soon encounter significantly higher price tags. Jeff Pu, an analyst at GF Securities—one of China’s largest securities and investment banks—projects that the iPhone 18 Pro could see a price increase ranging between 250 and 300 US dollars, according to Heise reporting.
While Apple has already raised prices for iPads, Macs, HomePods, the Apple TV, and the Vision Pro amid broader component shortages, the iPhone line has so far been shielded from these adjustments. However, market indicators now point toward a substantial price increase arriving in the autumn.
Component Shortages and Memory Crisis Drive Cost Pressures
The primary driver behind the anticipated price hike is a persistent storage crisis across the technology industry. High demand from operators of artificial intelligence data centers has severely constrained the supply of both working memory (RAM) and flash storage, pushing component costs upward.
Apple has already tested the waters internationally, raising iPhone prices in Japan ahead of its autumn hardware releases. Component analysis from Counterpoint supports the scale of the cost increases, indicating that raw parts expenses for the iPhone 18 Pro Max alone could climb by as much as 300 US dollars.
Two-Nanometer Chip Technology Adds Manufacturing Expense
Beyond the memory crisis, Pu identifies the integration of a two-nanometer chip as a secondary cost driver for the upcoming devices. Manufacturing the new processor is more expensive for Apple than producing previous chips built on a three-nanometer architecture.
This technological shift coincides directly with the memory crunch, leaving Apple with little room to absorb the expenses without cutting into its profit margins. Based on these compounding factors, the lowest entry price for a new pro-tier iPhone is projected to shift upward.
- iPhone 17 Pro baseline: 1,099 US dollars
- iPhone 18 Pro projected baseline: 1,349 to 1,399 US dollars
- iPhone 17 Pro Max baseline: 1,199 US dollars
- iPhone 18 Pro Max projected baseline: Up to 1,499 US dollars
Financial Outlook and Demand Uncertainty
Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook previously described price increases as unvermeidlich
(unavoidable) following the release of the company’s financial results. Although quarterly figures remained strong, the company’s financial outlook for the active quarter fell slightly short of analyst expectations.
Market observers anticipate only minor upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro compared to the iPhone 16 Pro and 17 Pro models. Planned updates include a variable aperture, the A20 Pro chip, and a reduced Dynamic Island.
According to Heise reporting, an overview of the planned innovations for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max—ranging from the variable aperture and the A20 Pro chip to the reduced Dynamic Island—is provided in their summary.
Because higher retail prices will coincide with relatively modest incremental features, analysts warn of upcoming demand uncertainty. Noting the strong performance of Apple’s stock value, Pu adjusted his investment rating for the company from Kaufen
(buy) to Halten
(hold). The new projections mark a notable shift from May, when market expectations suggested Apple might keep iPhone 18 Pro prices stable to protect market share.
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